Position Your Food Business for Success: Mastering Behavior Change
Axon Crisis Management
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Influencing someone to change a behavior may initially seem daunting but is a powerful skill to learn. Effective communication skills are essential for creating a solid foundation to drive this change. Remember this: 40% of foodborne illness outbreaks were caused by ill or infectious food workers1 and negligent food safety behaviors. Rarely does anyone intend to cause harm intentionally, and lack of knowledge cannot be tolerated. Management's most important responsibility is to ensure that food workers are aware of how they can personally prevent customers' illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.
In any relationship, well-thought-out communication strategies are essential for influencing human behavior. Body language and setting a good example can also contribute to this impact. Below are some points to consider as you continue encouraging your team to adhere to important food safety practices:
Remember the following points:
1. Set high standards and expectations from the beginning.
2. Identify what needs to change or improve in the entire team briefly and simply.
3. Providing knowledge about WHY the change is important is extremely critical.
4. Share the message multiple times and in different ways.
5. Use various communication methods to ensure that everyone receives the message. Some may receive communications best verbally, while others need visuals, numbers, or tactile elements to best hear the message.
WHY, you ask? Proper food safety practices save lives and ensure the continuity of business operations.
Article in collaboration with RQA, Inc.