The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Safety Leaders

Here is another op-ed piece I'd love to get input from my network.

There are seven habits that highly effective safety leaders share. These habits are: being proactive, setting an example, communicating effectively, fostering a culture of safety, leading by influence, not authority, embracing change, and sharpening the saw. Let's take a closer look at each one.

1.?Be proactive

The most effective safety leaders are proactive, not reactive.? They are intentional about how they use their time. They don’t spend time worrying about events they can’t control.? Instead, they focus on the things they do have influence over and proactively use their time to make the most significant possible impact.? They also think about urgency versus importance.? They define goals for the upcoming week and schedule them into their calendar.?They know these are the important items that must get done for the week without getting side-tracked.

2.?Set the example

Safety leaders set an example for others to follow.? They walk the talk and lead by example.? When workers see their leaders taking safety seriously, they are likelier to do the same.? They think about what you want people to be saying about your career at your retirement party:

·?????What they and their team have accomplished;

·?????How?they achieved their goals, including using synergy where the creation of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, and most importantly

·?????How they cared for their people.

3.?Communicate effectively

Safety leaders communicate effectively with their workers.? They try to understand as much information as possible before suggesting a solution.? They ensure that workers understand the hazards associated with their job and how to protect themselves from those hazards.? They also provide feedback to workers on their safety performance.? They think about a win-win and if there is a way both sides can come out ahead at the end of an interaction.

4.?Foster a culture of safety

Safety leaders foster a culture of safety within their organisation.?They create an environment where workers feel comfortable reporting hazards and near-misses.? They also encourage workers to participate in safety initiatives such as safety committees and training programs.

5.?Lead by influence, not authority

Safety leaders lead by influence, not authority. They gain the trust and respect of their workers by being credible and knowledgeable about safety. They use their power to persuade workers to adopt safe work practices and even challenge the practices when appropriate.

6.?Embrace change

Safety leaders embrace change when it comes to safety.?They are always looking for ways to improve the safety of their organisation.?They are willing to try new things and experiment with different approaches to find what works best for their organisation.

7 .?Sharpen the saw

Safety leaders continuously sharpen the saw when it comes to safety. They never stop learning and keep up with new occupational health and safety developments. They also ensure that their workers have access to the latest information on safety hazards and control measures. They also take time to focus on taking care of themselves.

In conclusion, by following these seven habits, you can become a more effective leader and make your workplace safer for everyone involved, even with limited time available to you.