There are a number of important factors OHS leaders need to consider when it comes to influencing and securing the support of decision-makers to support safety initiatives, according to a leadership expert.

Influencing decision-makers can be a challenge – especially when you have no direct authority or power, said Trevor Flint, director of Capstone Associates.

There are a number of factors that come into play and can create barriers to influence, explained Flint, who said these include:

• The relationship that we have with the person we are trying to influence
• How our personal credibility is perceived
• Our ability to adapt to our audience’s preferred communication style
• What degree of alignment there is in terms of their values and beliefs
• How effectively the person we are trying to influence’s interests are aligned with the idea we are trying to sell

“To be successful we need to become intentional about removing the barriers we encounter when it comes to influencing,” said Flint, who was speaking ahead of the AIHS Perth Safety Symposium, which will be held on Friday 27 November 2020.

“Decision-makers are going to be looking for information that supports their personal interests and agendas, presented in a way that they like.”

Finding meaningful ways to align your agenda with theirs and helping them to see why adopting your agenda is going to benefit them directly is a key component to gaining their support and buy-in, he said.

It is important to spend time putting yourself in their shoes and figuring out what it is they really care about – and then use these insights to find ways to craft your message to reflect this significantly increases the likelihood of achieving the outcomes that we want.

“As Stephen Covey wrote, think win-win – look for the mutually beneficial solutions or agreements and focus on those areas,” he said.

When making a decision, Flint said it would be nice to think that people consider all the available information in order to guide their thinking.

“Unfortunately, the reality is very often different. In the increasingly overloaded lives we lead, more than ever before we need shortcuts or rules of thumb to help us be effective in gaining the support that is necessary for us to achieve our goals and objectives.

“The good news is that we can learn to be more strategic in terms of overcoming the obstacles to influence and as a result increase our ability to create safer outcomes.”

Flint will be speaking as the AIHS Perth Safety Symposium, which will be held on Friday 27 November 2020 from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm at ECU Mount Lawley Campus. For more information call (03) 8336 1995, email events@aihs.org.au or visit the event website.

Article originally published by the Australian Institute of Health and Safety.

What is HSE Software and How Does myosh Work?

myosh is a cloud based workplace health and safety platform that works with you and your team.

Schedule an Online Demo

myosh is fast and fully configurable HSE Software that is easy to use and adapt for any Industries.

Over 50 configurable modules integrate to collect HSEQ data.

Modules are used to manage hazards, investigate incidents, manage risk, conduct audits and much more.

Our mobile app is used for fast data capture in the field, online or offline. Features include QR code scanning, digital signatures, Geo Locations and Geo Fencing, pdf export and more. You can configure mobile forms, visibility and functionality in your Administration panel

The myosh Dashboard provides powerful organisational insight by transforming your hseq data into intelligent visual charts, marps and tables. Up to date data is derived from modules and displayed in an interactive visual format, configured specifically for you and your team.

myosh is built on the Viking PaaS, a super configurable platform with powerful capabilities. Teams can quickly and easily configure the platform to their own very unique end to end process requirements.

We encourage you to treat your software technology like a team member. The myosh academy is designed to empower your team with the skills to ensure they use their software tools productively. Everyone learns differently, so the academy holds a variety of resources including videos, guided learning and verified online learning courses for each myosh module.

Your investment in myosh helps you and your team manage risk, compliance and improve workplace health and safety. Today, successful organisations view safety as an asset, and health and safety spending as an investment. This is because a safe workplace adds measurable business value, and can drive tangible improvements in performance, profit, and culture.

Ask our team for an online demonstration today.

More resources

HSEQ Job Directory

Demand for the Occupational Health and Safety Services industry is forecast to expand significantly over the next five years. Organisations in a range of industries are constantly looking for savvy, articulate professionals who can demonstrate how minimising risks and improving safety and health performance contributes to performance, profit, and culture.

Get ahead of the curve and advance your career in HSEQ today. View the latest health and safety consultant jobs from around the world.

See the latest HSEQ Consultant openings

The Facts and The Figures

Organisations are constantly reminded that health and safety failure is expensive. And whilst this is certainly true, there are benefits to health and safety success that go beyond cost-avoidance. Today, successful organisations view safety as an asset, and health and safety spending as an investment.

Download the report and discover the tangible and measurable benefits that health and safety initiatives can have on:

• Organisational Productivity
• Safety Climate
• Insurance
• Reputation
• The Bottom Line

myosh Academy

Your investment in myosh helps you and your team manage risk, compliance and improve workplace health and safety.

We encourage you to treat your software technology like a team member. The myosh Academy is designed to empower your team with Knowledge, Skills, Tips and FAQS, and to ensure they use their software tools productively.

• Watch videos
• View FAQs
• Take online courses
• Read articles
• Stay informed with myosh Updates