Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 324 – The Gift of a Near Miss
When Terri and I ran our environmental consulting firm, we had a rigorous safety programme, inspired in part by ExxonMobil’s system. One of the tools we used was something called a Near Miss Report.
Whenever we had an incident in which someone almost got hurt, or property almost got damaged, we documented it and discussed it with the team.
You might ask, “Why bother? Nobody was hurt. Nothing was damaged. No harm, no foul” Well, because we had been given a warning without having to pay the full price of the lesson.
“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.” — Proverbs 22:3
A near miss gave us the opportunity to stop, look carefully at what had happened, and ask: What went wrong? Why did it happen? What can we change so that next time this does not become a tragedy? The purpose was not to assign blame. It’s to learn.
As I reflected on that discipline today, it occurred to me that the same rigour should apply to almost every part of our businesses.
What if we treated a cash-flow crunch as a near miss? The cheque cleared this time. Payroll was made. The supplier was patient. But perhaps we came uncomfortably close to something much more serious.
What if we treated a difficult client interaction as a near miss? The client did not leave. The relationship survived. But something in our communication, expectations, quality control, or attitude nearly cost us an important relationship.
What about the key employee who almost resigned? The shipment that almost missed its deadline? The contract we nearly misunderstood?
Our natural response is often relief: Whew. We got through that one. And then we carry on. Perhaps instead we should stop.
“Now therefore this is what Yahweh of Armies says: ‘Consider your ways.’” — Haggai 1:5
A near miss invites reflection. We give thanks that the worst did not happen. Then learn everything we can from what almost did.
That near miss may turn out to be a remarkable gift. But that gift is wasted if we do not unwrap it.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the times You protect us from consequences we might easily have suffered. Give us the wisdom not merely to feel relieved when something almost goes wrong, but to stop, reflect, and learn. Show us the warning signs we have ignored, the systems we need to improve, and the attitudes or decisions we need to change. Help us receive a near miss as a gift of grace and use what we learn to lead more wisely, carefully, and faithfully.
Amen
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