---
title: How to gain more from conversations about safety
description: Nick Wharton explains four straightforward steps to better engagement with your staff.
image: https://blog.tribecc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/agefis-vKvUcdyaUhc-unsplash-1.jpg
---

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# How to gain more from conversations about safety

 Apr 16, 2014, 3:28:51 PM

We strongly believe that effective engagement is central to improving [safety](https://tribeculturechange.com/why-staff-are-afraid-to-speak-up-about-safety/) culture, and that safety culture and safety leadership are inseparable. Leaders drive culture and have the greatest influence on its nature through communication. Yet communication isn’t always as effective as it should be, especially when it comes to safety.

A good leader, at any level:

- encourages people to buy-in to a common goal
- clearly explains the chosen path towards it
- listens to the hopes and concerns of individual team members along the way

If you think your communication could be better, remember: these are skills you can learn and improve.

Through safety engagement tools like our [SUSA](https://tribeculturechange.com/do-you-make-this-fatal-error-with-safety-management/), Talksafe, and Stop&Talk techniques we give people a simple, flexible structure that makes safety engagement easier and more effective. But whichever tool you use, including your own, how it’s put into practice determines how much benefit you gain. You have to make sure you g*et it right.*

By *getting it right* I mean that your engagement must be:

- At the ***right time***
- In the ***right place***
- On the ***right topic***
- In the ***right way***

## The right time

![Four arrows labelled with each of the four aspects of effective engagement ](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png "Effective engagement")

This means when it’s convenient – not just for you to give it your full attention, but also for the person with whom you want to engage. If they’re in the middle of a complex task it probably isn’t the *right time*.

You should choose a time when the subject is receptive – right at the end of their shift may not be ideal. The *right time* is often *right now* – but it might not be – use your judgement. Of course, if someone behaves unsafely and puts themselves or others at risk it’s always the  *right time*.

## The right place

This means somewhere appropriate for a meaningful conversation. The *right place* will ideally be where the task is being undertaken but consider noise, heat and other environmental factors. Ensure it’s safe and comfortable enough to be having an engagement in that location.

For some activities it isn’t appropriate to be engaging with someone, like talking to a driver for example. Usually, the most comfortable place for someone will be on their territory, where they’re likely to be more relaxed and therefore more forthcoming with information.

## The right topic

You shouldn’t approach a safety engagement with too rigid an agenda. Of course you can have topics that you want to include but you mustn’t let these get in the way of a good discussion by avoiding the subjects that someone raises. The r*ight topics* will be relevant, current and searching – not just the easy, obvious topics either (not just PPE!).

With a simple shift of emphasis you can easily convert your safety engagements into quality engagements, environmental engagements or any other aspect of work. The principles are the same whatever the topic.

## The right way

This, of course, is the main element to your engagement. How you approach and engage with someone will determine the response that you get and what you both achieve from the opportunity.

Whilst the traditional approach to talking about safety often seems to be negative and miserable, let’s break with tradition and portray a more positive, friendly and relaxed manner. Your role in this engagement is to ask worthwhile questions then listen to what people say in response. Show respect for their knowledge and understanding and show some empathy for their point of view. Use language that they understand and, if you know them, take the approach that you know is most suited to them.

If you put some thought into each of these elements before you communicate with someone then you’ll get the most out of the time that you invest in your safety engagements.

### [About Nick Wharton](https://blog.tribecc.com/author/nick-wharton)

Lead Consultant

My role is to work with clients from many industries, in many countries, helping them to achieve the culture change they seek. I draw on my years of experience in enforcement, as an HSE Manager in industry and for many years as a Director of Tribe and its predecessor JOMC. During this time, I managed our excellent group of experienced and knowledgeable consultants, as well as overseeing the development of the many and varied new tools and approaches we use to help in getting the safety message across and achieving Culture Change.

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