Kevin Burns Blog

Why Turnover, Absenteeism, and Disengagement Are Destroying Your Safety Numbers

Kevin Burns — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:15:00 GMT

If your safety numbers aren't moving, your safety program probably isn't the problem.

How Industrial Operations Managers Sabotage Their Leadership Pipeline

Kevin Burns — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:15:00 GMT

If you ask most operations managers why they can't find anyone ready to promote, they'll tell you it's a people problem.

Why Employees Don't Trust Their Supervisors (3 Directions of Trust)

Kevin Burns — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:15:00 GMT

Ask most senior managers whether their employees trust their supervisors, and you'll get one of two answers. Either a confident yes or a long pause.

4 Ways Departmental Silos Are Costing You Every Metric

Kevin Burns — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:14:59 GMT

In nearly 30 years of working with industrial companies, almost every single one has admitted the same thing. They have a communications problem, a departmental silo problem, or heaven help them, both.

Have You Given Your Supervisors a Hope Promotion?

Kevin Burns — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:15:00 GMT

There's a mistake that almost every industrial operation makes when they promote someone to supervisor.

Employee Engagement Has Nothing To Do With Employees

Kevin Burns — Fri, 22 May 2026 14:15:00 GMT

You've tried the workshops. You've run the surveys. You've rolled out the initiatives. Employee engagement still isn't where it needs to be. And you can't build your safety culture without engaged employees. Here's the question nobody in the engagement industry wants you to ask.

The Reason You Can't Call Your Supervisor a Leader

Kevin Burns — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:14:59 GMT

You gave them the title. You gave them the schedule, the paperwork, and the HR contact number. But there is one thing most organizations never give their supervisors when they promote them. And it is the only thing that actually matters.

What Do Safety Numbers and Turnover Rates Have in Common?

Kevin Burns — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:15:00 GMT

Your safety numbers are connected to your turnover numbers. Your engagement numbers are connected to your absenteeism numbers. Quality issues are connected to your succession planning. With apologies to Levitt and Dubner's Freakonomics, there is a single thread that connects them all. Find out why your individual initiatives are only getting modest results.

Your Supervisors Are Busy. But Are They Effective?

Kevin Burns — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:15:00 GMT

Your supervisors work hard. No one is questioning that. But hard work and effective leadership are two different things, and confusing them is costing your operation. This post breaks down the gap between a busy supervisor and an effective one, and what it takes to close it.

How These Four Supervisor Pillars Help Build Safety Culture

Kevin Burns — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:15:00 GMT

The safety program doesn't build a safety culture. Only your supervisors can do that. And they can only do it when they have the right foundation. Here are the four pillars that make the difference.