Is Influencing Power the Key Skill for Safety Professionals? Share Your Thoughts

Dear All,

One of the most required skills for a Safety Professional is Influencing Power.

Do you agree with this statement or not?

Please share your views with reasons. Let's have a positive discussion on this topic.

With regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Good Topic Again......
Yes , I positively agree with you.
Herewith I wann to share some proved tips about this skill
1. You do not need to be in a position of power. You need only be in a position to influence those in power. Few are in the prior and fewer are those who are not in the latter.
2. Find the the person whom you will influence to make your vision a
reality.
3. Keep your agenda a secret from those who would undermine it.
4. Share your agenda with those whom you trust. This will allow you to drum up support when the time is right.
5. Focus your vision by giving it a goal.
6. Do not seek permission to influence those in power.
7. Seize the opportunities to influence events as they come your way.
Regards,
Abhay

Re: Safety Professional vs Influencing Power

It is not just influencing that is required for the Safety Professional (SP). The SP needs to be knowledgeable about the activity that he is advising on safety aspects.

In my experience, most SPs do not understand how the different activities are conducted. Hence, when they try to influence people regarding safety matters, they do not succeed. In most cases, people from the line want SPs to understand their constraints before giving advice on safety.

I was and still am requested to give HSE advice and training purely because I was in operations and maintenance before I moved to HSE. Hence, I find it easier to influence because I am familiar with the activities and can relate to the people doing the activity by suggesting better and improved (safety-wise) ways to carry out a particular job.

Regards,
Gopi

Dear Friends,

"Influencing power" seems to be aggressiveness. I feel it is influencing personality that is required.

THE QUESTION?

WHAT ATTITUDE, PERSONAL QUALITIES, AND SKILLS SHOULD A SAFETY OFFICER HAVE TO INFLUENCE CHANGE AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY PERFORMANCE OF AN ORGANIZATION?

Please, let us have a clear picture of it.

nuways

Hi,

I feel the position of a Safety Professional is the most crucial. He is the one who is responsible for the safety issues of the organization. Our organization's sharp knowledge and hierarchical system puts the position of this profile at a lower level in the entire system, but he is a very important person. He should be able to convince and influence people. Whoever says power comes only with position, this man if empowered correctly can be a boon to the organization.

Sujeesha.

Dear All,

Thanks for taking part in the discussions.

My views on the same:

Definitely, a Safety Professional must have this influencing skill. In Indian Industries, the Safety Professional, even though in a highly reputed position of management, sometimes fails to implement what he wants or wishes to implement. Even if he is more knowledgeable, he always fails to influence the top management.

The power of influencing plays a vital role when a top management personnel refuses any proposal the first time and then agrees to the same the second time. The first objection towards any proposal seems to be not for genuine reasons. His mindset or his routine makes him refuse the same.

By being aggressive, we can influence others, but it may not be sustainable. Once the pressure is released, everything will return to its original state.

Mainly, Safety Officers in most Indian Industries are appointed to fulfill statutory requirements. Hence, being in a responsible position without empowerment makes the work really tough. Therefore, influencing plays a vital role.

With regards,

Dipil Kumar V

Dear PBS KUMAR,

I have a little disagreement with your post. Safety is something that we can't separate from work; it should be integrated into our work. Safety and production have equal importance.

Let's consider an example: When building a wall, we use bricks and mortar. We cannot omit either if we intend to construct a wall. The same principle applies to safety and work. Neglecting safety or only ensuring safety at the beginning can lead to work disruptions due to incidents at any point. This approach becomes a gamble.

Here's another example: When driving a car, you fasten your seat belt before starting. However, wearing a seat belt does not guarantee complete safety. Throughout the journey, you must stay focused on driving. A momentary lapse in concentration can result in a major disaster.

Safety should be ingrained in our work; we cannot separate the two.

Regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Dear all,

Nice to hear your comments......

According to my view, yes, I feel SP should be of influencing nature. For people to get influenced, he/she should be knowledgeable in their field, have thorough knowledge of the process of their plant so people can't be fooled, be polite where required, and strict where necessary.

He/she should know how the person in front of them will understand, what measures to adopt, counsel, train, explain the hazards, and ill effects of unsafe jobs. He/she should counsel the site in charge or its supervisor on where to intervene, who is the right person, or who is performing unsafely. Fulfill the commitment, make them realize it is for their benefit only...

If you have this much command, then definitely you will be able to influence.

Believe me, when I go on site rounds, my mere presence makes them realize that they are doing things wrong or engaging in unsafe practices. They themselves stop the work and correct the mistake.

As Mr. Gopinadhan Pillai said, yes, we should know the process thoroughly so that we can advise them on what is possible or take advice from them on what could be done because giving suggestions is very easy.

I have also transitioned from process to HSE, so I take examples of what people really do in the field...

Looking forward to more views.

Regards,

Hansa Vyas

Dear Gopinadhan Pillai and Hansa,

I know a Safety Manager with abundant knowledge who is, by qualification, an Engineer and has perfect knowledge of Statutory regulations. He works for one of the MNCs where infrastructure and funding are not constraints. Despite this, he fails to implement his views and ideas, leading to a failure in safety management in this case. This failure is solely due to a lack of influencing skills.

I also agree that knowledge is crucial for a successful Safety Professional. However, knowledge alone is not sufficient for success. The ability to influence is equally important.

Regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Dear All,

In order to influence senior and top management, the Safety Professional (SP) must, I agree, be senior enough for them to listen. If the SP is senior enough, he or she will have to know the business operations and the people who run it. Otherwise, influencing becomes difficult. The SP, as stated by some of you, should be able to integrate Safety (HSE) into the operational activities and explain why certain precautions should be taken to conduct certain tasks and explain the consequences if the precautions are not followed. A lot of coaching is required by the SP. Most times the SP is unable to do this. Hence, the difficulty to convince the workforce and management as to why safety (HSE) issues are important to be managed proactively as well as undertake consequence management should things go wrong.

@ Nuways

Nice question...

My views on the same are as follows:

ATTITUDE
1. Positive Attitude.
2. Should have a belief that "ALL ACCIDENTS ARE PREVENTABLE"

PERSONAL QUALITIES
1. Patient enough to listen to others.
2. Integrity
3. Subject Knowledge
4. Passionate towards the job
5. Never give up when facing difficult problems

SKILLS
1. Communication Skills
2. Influencing
3. Training
Etc. Now this is all that comes to my mind...

Hope to get other views on the same, moreover a perfect answer from you.

With regards,
Dipil Kumar V