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All About You: Keep an open mind

September 22, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE: Motivating employees to work safely is part of the safety professional’s job. But who motivates the motivator? In this monthly column, veteran safety pro and professional speaker Richard Hawk offers his entertaining brand of wisdom to inspire safety pros to perform at their best.

I’ll be giving a keynote to a mostly Spanish-speaking audience next week. An interpreter will be beside me and every Spanish-speaking person will have headphones.

I’ve done this a few times before. Although it’s a change to my typical interaction with audiences, I’m looking forward to it. I find it a pleasure to visit other countries and experience different cultures because I learn so much about the ways people live and interact.

When I spent two weeks in India giving my “safety leadership” seminars, I learned that I need to keep an open mind when it comes to ways of doing things. Many of India’s cultural norms are different than what I’m used to. Rather than make judgments and think, “That’s not the way you’re supposed to do that,” I was determined to remain curious. This helped me avoid falling into a confirmation-bias trap – when, once we believe something is the “right” way or cultural norm, we dismiss opposing ideas and methods and only want to hear views and beliefs that match ours.

In all aspects of our lives, this bias can hinder our ability to stay open-minded. As safety pros, it can make us less effective – and also less likeable.

If you’re at a meeting or in the field and someone thinks differently than you about how to do something, welcome their suggestion. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with it right away, but at least give it objective consideration.

If an employee’s differing technique works as well as mine, I embrace the opportunity to make a change and use it. It boosts the person’s morale and improves my relationship with them. If it’s not my idea, so what? When I’m on a jobsite, I purposely ask for ideas different than mine. For example: If I suggest a way to set up a hazard barrier or other precautions, I’ll ask, “Does anyone think there’s a better way to do this?” I’m thrilled when I get a suggestion, especially if it’s better.

Having visited and worked with a wide variety of industries, I’m amazed at how safety cultures differ. Not just in the general mood of the employees and how they interact, but in how they approach safety challenges. That’s why I recommend you reach out not only to other safety pros in your industry, but also those in very different industries. Do you work in construction? Then find safety pros who work in the medical field and ask them what they do to make their safety meetings more engaging or what type of ergonomics training they provide. In turn, you’ll share your successes.

If you attended the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando, FL, no doubt you had many opportunities to interact with colleagues from every kind of industry. Over the years, I’ve picked up loads of new ideas and insights from networking at Congress. I especially like talking with vendors from other countries, both for cultural insights and to learn about tools, gear and training innovation.

Being open-minded can benefit all of your relationships. Whether I’m talking with longtime friends or fresh acquaintances, I’m open to learning about what they do and how they think. Music, books, hobbies, use of technology … I’m interested in what the other person enjoys, even if it’s outside my normal realm.

History has taught us that what we believe to be correct today may not be true tomorrow. Think about the belief among the most respected doctors at one time that bloodletting benefited ill patients! The same applies to safety and health. That’s why it’s wise to question our long-standing policies and procedures. Having an open mind about how we behave, as well as our biases, is worth taking the time to consider.

This article represents the views of the author and should not be considered a National Safety Council endorsement.

Richard Hawk helps leaders inspire employees to care more about their safety and health so “nobody gets hurt.” He also has a long history of success getting safety leaders to increase their influence and make safety fun. For more than 35 years, Richard’s safety keynotes, training sessions, books and “Safety Stuff” e-zine have made a positive difference in the safety and health field. Learn more about how Richard can improve your employees’ safety performance at makesafetyfun.com.