Safety discussions

“Be curious, not judgmental” - Ted Lasso

From the hit TV series, Ted Lasso, a quote that is attributed to an American Poet, Walt Whitman…..however, there is no evidence that Mr Whitman ever used these words. So for the purposes of this discussion let’s assume that Ted Lasso should get the praise for this line.

What does this have to do with anything ?

Safety discussions or relationship building in the field.

Safety discussions or observations have, historically, been founded on the assumption that someone has been seen (caught) doing something wrong. They have been judged even before a word has been spoken or a question asked.

Had an observer bothered to ask a few questions, they might get to a much better conclusion and they may be a better, more knowledgeable person as a result of that interaction.

Can you talk me through the process ?

Would you do it another way ?

Have you got everything you need to keep yourself safe and well ?

These are just a sample of a plethora of questions that are founded on the approach to let the worker at the front line, demonstrate their knowledge and expertise and get them talking about their specific task, as skilled and competent adults.

As well as get a better understanding of the task being observed / discussed, this interaction will, with time, build stronger relationships with the teams in the field. This will take time and perseverance. But it will result in a strong foundation from which to build real relationships in the field. These relationships will then facilitate ongoing and impactful safety discussions.

So, I urge you all, to move from the safety observation into the safety discussion areas.

Don’t make statements. Ask questions. And be curious.