Personal testimony is more effective than company statistics to get this point across. When employees can visualize injuries prevented by their involvement, they can see how their safety work makes a difference. Like the squirrel's work, their safety-related actions help colleagues and friends make it through the winter and beyond. A squirrel's behavior is fluent, filled with purposeful energy, but it can be rather chaotic and non-cooperative. Two squirrels might fight over a single acorn, and acorns buried by one squirrel for the winter will be another's treasure if they are found.
Beavers work interdependently.
They have the Spirit of the Squirrel, but as the more intelligent rodent, they cooperate to get the job done. The Way of the Beaver is being self-directed to achieve goals that benefit everyone. This secret exemplifies empowerment as I've described in prior ISHN articles. Employees who feel empowered believe they can make a difference and are more likely to actively care for the safety and health of others. The Way of the Beaver reflects these three states.