As a safety professional, your role is to protect people and create safer workplaces. While tools like risk assessment apps, software dashboards with bells and whistles, or safety tech systems may have their place, investing in your own skills is equally important.

Developing key personal skills – such as coaching, negotiation, and understanding human behaviour – can make you more effective in your work.

Here’s why and how these skills matter:

1. Coaching Skills: Guiding Teams to Safety

What it is: Coaching involves helping others improve their performance through guidance, feedback, and encouragement.
Why it matters: Safety professionals often need to train employees or influence teams to follow safety protocols. Good coaching skills help you communicate clearly, build trust, and motivate others to prioritise safety.
How to develop: Take courses on leadership or coaching, practice active listening, and learn to ask open-ended questions to encourage problem-solving.

2. Negotiation Techniques: Advocating for Safety

What it is: Negotiation is the ability to discuss and reach agreements with others, such as managers or contractors, to prioritise safety measures.
Why it matters: You may need to convince stakeholders to invest in safety initiatives or resolve conflicts about safety practices. Strong negotiation skills help you advocate effectively without creating resistance.
How to develop: Study negotiation strategies, practice role-playing scenarios, and learn to present data-driven arguments to support safety needs.

3. Understanding Behaviour: Influencing Positive Change

What it is: Understanding human behaviour involves learning why people act the way they do, including why they might take risks or ignore safety rules.
Why it matters: By understanding behaviour, you can design safety programs that address root causes, encourage compliance, and foster a safety-mindset culture.
How to develop: Explore behavioural science basics, attend workshops on workplace behaviour, or read books like Nudge by Richard Thaler or Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Why Personal Skills Outweigh Tools

While tools can improve efficiency, personal skills enable you to connect with people, influence decisions, and create lasting change. Tools alone can’t address human factors like resistance, miscommunication, or lack of engagement.

By investing in yourself, you become a more impactful safety leader.

How to Start Investing in Yourself

Take short courses: Look for online or in-person training in coaching, negotiation, or behavioural science.
Practice daily: Apply these skills in small ways, like giving constructive feedback or resolving a workplace disagreement.
Seek mentorship: Learn from experienced professionals who excel in these areas.
Read and reflect: Stay curious by exploring leadership, psychology, and communication to expand your knowledge.

By focusing on these skills, you’ll not only enhance your career but also make workplaces safer and more collaborative.

PS: Two top courses specifically designed to help with your personal development.

5-day Leadership Skills Development Email Course – Tap here and start enhancing your leadership skills

7-Day Coaching Strategy Email Course – Tap here and start sharpening your coaching skills.

This simple routine created a sense of unity and purpose.

Implementing positive reinforcement played a crucial role. We instituted recognition programs to acknowledge and celebrate individual and team achievements.

This not only boosted morale but also motivated others to emulate the behaviours that garnered recognition.

Additionally, we established a feedback loop to facilitate open communication. Regular check-ins and anonymous suggestion boxes allowed employees to voice concerns and contribute ideas for improvement.

This inclusivity empowered the workforce, making them active participants in the transformation process.

As the days turned into weeks, the results were nothing short of remarkable. Employee engagement levels soared, collaboration became the norm, and productivity increased significantly.

The once-muted construction team buzzed with energy and creativity.

The success story didn’t end there.

The client noticed decreased absenteeism, improved client satisfaction, and a surge in employee retention rates.

The positive behavioural changes had created a ripple effect, shaping a workplace culture that not only embraced change but thrived on it.

Ultimately, it was a testament to the transformative power of intentional behavioural change.

By fostering a growth mindset, implementing practical habits, and prioritising positive reinforcement, we not only met but exceeded the client’s expectations, creating a workplace where success was not just a goal but a shared journey.

Why safety professionals should invest in personal skills, not just tools