The culture on construction sites tends to be macho and sometimes confrontational. Where this is the case, attitudes towards health and safety are usually negative: it is seen as a “rule-obsessed” process that slows the job down and if workers raise issues they may get a hostile reaction from colleagues or managers.
This article by Glen – When Actions Speak Louder than Words – in Construction Manager magazine (9th Nov), outlines 5 simple steps leaders can take to improve this situation.
This exercise is designed for a group of 3-5 people working together. For the duration of the exercise they enter a scenario, taking on the role of manager to deal with a situation involving a member of their team. The objective is to give participants practical experience of managing a difficult situation so that they can build confidence and develop people skills. Read more Tips for Serious Play: untying the knot
Talking about situations (e.g. through an action learning or coaching process) is useful to help you clarify issues and identify possible solutions. But if we can bring the situation to life for you to examine directly, exploring issues and trying out different options then you can rehearse and experiment in safety. Read more – Handling Difficult Conversations
When presenting your views to others it’s important to communicate what you intend to communicate. However, there is often a mismatch between what you think you’re communicating and what others actually experience.
This article shows how a focussed session with a professional coach (in this case Tess) enables you to Take control of your message.
Another article on a similar theme – improving the way you present yourself and your message – is this one: It’s the way you tell it.
The August 2011 edition of International Oil & Gas Engineer magazine carries an article by Glen about the cultural factors that influence a person’s decision whether to intervene or not when they witness a colleague (or senior) a
cting unsafely.
You can download the article here – Is health & safety intervention hampered by culture?
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