Modeling the Behavior You Expect from Your Team

By Brian J. Riker

The good news is that the problem is simple. The bad news? Fixing it requires you to change—well, some of you, at least.

How often do you see a tower doing something questionable? Worse yet, how often do you see one of your own employees doing the unthinkable?

These behaviors often stem from a lack of training, a lack of understanding that their actions are unsafe or undesirable—or worse, they’re learned behaviors from watching their role models: a boss, supervisor, senior employee, or even a social media influencer. Humans naturally copy what they see, often without fully grasping the risks involved. That’s why it’s vital we stay aware of what example we set.

A perfect example unfolded as the Wall of the Fallen ceremony concluded during the International Towing and Recovery Museum weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A respected industry figure—who will remain unnamed here—was observed directing traffic to help trucks that had hoisted the flag depart after the ceremony. The problem? This individual wore no safety vest or visible gear distinguishing them from any pedestrian in the area.

The irony should not be lost on any of us. Moments earlier, this same person had participated in a ceremony honoring tow operators who were struck and killed in the line of duty. Yet they then stepped into an active lane of traffic, without proper safety equipment or traffic control, to guide a rotator turning into a side street.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t an isolated lapse in judgment. Across our industry, owners, managers, and lead drivers are frequently seen disregarding basic safety practices—failing to wear PPE, skipping proper tie-downs, neglecting to plumb brakes on heavy tows, and more—all while expecting their employees to follow the rules.

Social media influencers can be even more problematic. While the visibility they bring to our industry is appreciated, when you post online, remember: not everyone watching knows the context. Many new towers turn to YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms to learn. When unsafe, staged, or sensationalized content is shared for likes or clicks, it sends the wrong message—and that can have deadly consequences.

It’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt—or worse—trying to imitate something they saw online without understanding the full situation. The same risk applies when employees copy unsafe habits they see from leadership.

The bottom line: as professionals, we all have a duty to model safe, responsible behavior every time we’re on the job. Being an owner or manager doesn’t exempt you from the rules. Think carefully about the message your actions send before you take that next step—or someone else might follow it blindly.