Leadership In Occupational

Safety &Health LEO S. DOTE

IntroductionIntroductionAt the end of this session you will be aware of:The definition of Leadership.The principles of OSH leadershipThe qualities of a leader.Leadership skills that you would like to develop in OSHMethods of safety leadership. Other OSH Leadership matters.

What is Leadership?What is Leadership? The ability to influence group members so

as to help achieve the goals of the group. The ability to lead, including inspiring

others in a shared vision. Leader have clear vision and they communicate these vision to their employees.

Influencing and directing the performance of group members towards the achievement of organizational goal.

Leadership QuotesLeadership Quotes

The quality of leadership, more than any other single factor, determines the success or failure of the organization.

No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.

The real leader has no need to lead – he is content to point the way.

How do we Become How do we Become Leaders?Leaders?

• Some personality traits may lead people naturally into leadership role.

• A crisis or important event may cause a person to rise to the occasion which brings out the extraordinary leadership qualities in an ordinary person.

• People can choose to become leader and learn leadership skills. This is achieved by recognizing what qualities and skills they have and gradually improving to meet their goals.

What are Leadership Qualities & Skills?

Integrity Vision Trust Coach Trainer Gives recognition Positive attitude Have initiative

Timely decision Good listener Self confident Honest Builds consensus Share authority Manage conflict Courage

Safety Management Safety Management LeadershipLeadership

Effective protection from occupational hazards takes leadership and commitment.

Leadership provides the motivating force and resources for organizing and controlling unsafe activities within the organization.

Some Methods of Some Methods of Visible Safety LeadershipVisible Safety Leadership

Getting out to be seen Being accessible Being an example Getting involved/participation

Employee InvolvementEmployee Involvement

Provides the means though which workers develop and express commitment to safety and health.

Why employees have to get Why employees have to get involved in Safety involved in Safety

Leadership?Leadership? Rank and file workers are the persons

most in contact with potential safety and health hazards.

Are more likely to support and use safety programs in which they have inputs.

Two Important Keys to Leadership

1.Trust and Confidence 2.Effective Communication

Principles of Leadership

Be technically proficient Seek responsibility and take

responsibility for your action Make sound and timely decisions. Set the example Know your people and look out for their

well being.

Principles of Leadership

Keep your workers informed. Develop a sense of responsibility in your

workers. Ensured that tasks are understood and

accomplished. Use the full capabilities of your team.

KNOW YOURSELF AND SEEK SELF-IMPROVEMENT

What About You?What About You?

Consider what qualities and skills you possess.

Consider what qualities and skills you would like to develop.

The Nature of OSH The Nature of OSH Leadership.Leadership.

OSH Leadership is not POWER - Power is the capacity to bring about desired

outcomes and prevent those not desired. Power is derived from status, position, money,

expertise, charisma, ability to harm, access to media, control of assets, communications skills, physical strength.

Leaders always have power, but the powerful are not always leaders.

A thug who sticks a gun in your back has “power” but not leadership

Power is self-centered, ethically neutral (can be used for good or bad), amoral.

OSH Leadership is not STATUS - Status is derived from position and

performance. Status or position may enhance the

opportunity for leadership. Some may have status or position, yet

haven’t a clue how to lead. Position is assigned from

above...leadership is conferred from below.

The Nature of OSH The Nature of OSH Leadership.Leadership.

OSH Leadership is not AUTHORITY - A supervisor may have subordinates,

but that doesn't mean they are followers.

People will follow someone upon whom they have conferred leadership. Leadership will be conferred only if person acts like a leader.

The Nature of OSH The Nature of OSH Leadership.Leadership.

OSH Leadership is not MANAGEMENT - Good management is the ability to control

work through planning, organizing, and supervising.

Managers know how to organize processes, policies, plans, procedures, programs.

Managing is a planned activity. Leadership is more spontaneous than planned.

Managers do things right. Leaders do the right things.

The Nature of OSH The Nature of OSH Leadership.Leadership.

OSH Leadership is not COMMON SENSE -

Common sense does not actually exist. Personal sense does, and it's based on each individual's experience.

Good sense is individual. Common sense would result in common leadership styles. Actually, a person's unique individual (hopefully good) sense influences their leadership style. Consequently, leadership styles are quite unique.

The Nature of OSH The Nature of OSH Leadership.Leadership.

What leadership style What leadership style works best in safety?works best in safety?

Incorrect AssumptionsManagement makes decisions, drives the

process, and organizes people and production only for economic gain.

Workers must modify their behavior to fit the needs of the organization. They must be directed, controlled, even coerced in this effort.

Incorrect AssumptionsManagement must be actively involved to

prevent passive, resistant, counterproductive employee behavior. Employees must be persuaded, rewarded, punished, controlled so prevent them from being indolent, slothful, and just plain lazy. Because employees lack ambition, dislike responsibility, and prefer to be led, management's task is to prod employees along.

Management is "getting things done through other people."

What leadership style What leadership style works best in safety?works best in safety?

Correct AssumptionsManagement and employees make

decisions and drive the production process for economic gain.

Workers are not passive and lazy by nature, but have become so due to experience and socialization in organizations. When motivated they are capable of self-directed work behavior and decision making.

What leadership style What leadership style works best in safety?works best in safety?

Correct AssumptionsEmployees seek safety, job security,

responsibility, and recognition. They want to develop a high degree of pride in the work they accomplish. Management's challenge is to provide employees with the means to recognize their potential, and work at the highest possible level.

Management is "organizing the workplace to best provide employees with the resources they need to be safe and achieve their own goals and objectives supporting organizational success."

What leadership style What leadership style works best in safety?works best in safety?

Recognition: Recognition: Leaders know how to use Leaders know how to use it...it...

Leaders understand the power sincere recognition has in creating a successful relationship with their employees. Employees should be recognized for safety whenever their performance meets or exceeds expectations.

Safety Behaviors theSafety Behaviors theOSH Leader Must RecognizeOSH Leader Must Recognize

Three mandated behaviors all employees should be recognized for are:

1. Complying with company safety rules.

2. Reporting hazards in the workplace. 3. Reporting injuries immediately.

Two discretionary behaviors should be strongly encouraged and recognized/rewarded:

1. Making safety suggestions. 2. Involvement in the safety committee and

other activities.

Safety Behaviors theSafety Behaviors theOSH Leader Must RecognizeOSH Leader Must Recognize

Safe behavior is

a professional behavior!

Leaders Are Better Leaders Are Better CommunicatorsCommunicators

Improving working relationships through effective communications is both a science and an art. You can learn all the technical aspects of communications (the science), but only experience, with all its successes and failures, will improve your communications skills to that of a true artist.

Five Strategies To Improve Five Strategies To Improve CommunicationsCommunications

1. Give lots of feedback 2. Measure performance 3. Define clear goals in writing 4. Establish concrete consistent

rules 5. Allow freedom to choose

The Five Levels of Leadership

Step 1 – The BOSS• You have subordinates, but no followers• People do what you say because they have

to• People do what you say because you

occupy a position.• Your influence does not extend beyond the

lines of your job description.• The longer you stay here, the higher the

turnover and lower the morale.

Step 2 - The COACH• Leadership by permission• People want to follow: they give

you permission to lead.• People will follow you beyond your

stated authority.• This level allows work to be fun.

The Five Levels of Leadership

Step 3 - The PRODUCER• People follow because of what you do

for the organization.• This is where success is sensed by most

people.• They like you and what you are doing.• Problems are fixed with very little effort

because of momentum.

The Five Levels of Leadership

Step 4 - The PROVIDER• People follow because of what you do

for them.• This is where long-range growth occurs.• Your commitment to developing leaders

will insure ongoing growth to the organization and

to people.• Do whatever you can to achieve and

stay on this level.

The Five Levels of Leadership

Step 5 - The CHAMPION• People follow because of who you

are and what you represent.• This step is reserved for leaders

who have spent years growing people and organizations.

• Few make it: Those who do are bigger than life.

The Five Levels of Leadership

The boss drives his men; the leader coaches them.The boss depends on authority; the leader on good will.The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm.The boss says “I”; the leader “WE.”The boss fixes the blame; the leader fixes the system.The boss knows how it is done; the leader shows how it is done.The boss says “go!”; the leader says “let’s go!”

“Boss or Leader”

• If a leader wants employees who care about their work, he or she must demonstrate care for employees.• If a leader desires honest and fair employee behavior, he or she must treat employees with honesty and fairness.• If a leader expects selfless employee performance, he or she must be selfless.• If a leader expects employee loyalty, he or she must be loyal.

Leaders Understand Cause and Effect

Other Characteristics of anOther Characteristics of an OSH Leader OSH Leader

• Leaders know how to communicate.• Leaders recognize good work.• Leaders know how to discipline.• Leaders develop trust and credibility.

Unsuccessful safety cultures are usually the

result of employees being over-managed

and under-led.

Because safety is critical to both the welfare of the employee and

the company, only a tough caring leadership style, effectively adopted by management,

‘will benefit the company’s safety and health culture

in the long term.

Health and Safety Leadership Health and Safety Leadership ChecklistChecklist

• How do you demonstrate the board's commitment to health and safety?

• What do you do to ensure appropriate board-level review of health and safety?

• What have you done to ensure your organisation, at all levels including the board, receives competent health and safety advice?

• How are you ensuring all staff – including the board – are sufficiently trained and competent in their health and safety responsibilities?

• How confident are you that your workforce, particularly safety representatives, are consulted properly on health and safety matters, and that their concerns are reaching the appropriate level including, as necessary, the board?

• What systems are in place to ensure your organisation’s risks are assessed, and that sensible control measures are established and maintained?

• How well do you know what is happening on the ground, and what audits or assessments are undertaken to inform you about what your organisation and contractors actually do?

Health and Safety Leadership Health and Safety Leadership ChecklistChecklist

• What information does the board receive regularly about health and safety – e.g. performance data and reports on injuries and work-related ill health?

• What targets have you set to improve health and safety and do you benchmark your performance against others in your sector or beyond?

• Where changes in working arrangements have significant implications for health and safety, how are these brought to the attention of the board?

Health and Safety Leadership Health and Safety Leadership ChecklistChecklist

HE WHO IS FULL OF AUTHORITY BUT HAS NO

RESPONSIBILITY IS A DICTATOR.

HE WHO IS FULL OF RESPONSIBILITY BUT HAS

NO AUTHORITY IS A SLAVE.

Anonymous WordsAnonymous Words

My Words!!!My Words!!!

“DO NOT BECOME A SAFETY DICTATOR, NEITHER A

SAFETY SLAVE, BUT RATHER,

A TOUGH & CARING SAFETY PROFESSIONAL”