Steve's Safety Minute
#1
If You're Kept in the Dark, You Think the Worst
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Think about it. Have you ever been called on the phone by your supervisor and told to "come over, I need to talk to you," and the supervisor doesn't tell you what the meeting is about? What are you thinking as you walk over to the office?
Do you think the best, or the worst? Don't tell me, because I already know you're thinking the worst. It's normal human behavior. This example illustrates the very important human relations principle that state, "If you keep people in the dark, they think the worst."
To make sure employees don't think the worst about you as a supervisor or manager, make sure you let them know why you'd like to talk with them. Keep them updated on changes in policies and procedures, and most importantly, let them know why you're making the changes. The number-one reason employees do not follow rules and policies is that they don't know why they're important. Note: If you're smart, you will have involved your employees in developing the changes too.
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To make sure people don't think the worst about the safety committee, it's important for the committee to communicate regularly and often with employees and the employer. Responding to employee concerns is critical to the success of the safety committee. Submitting quality recommendations to the employer is just as critical.
Finally, it's important that both labor and management is represented on the committee and that both participate in all committee activities. Doing so will help make sure mutual understanding, rather than the "darkness" of ignorance, drives activities.
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