We as safety professionals are living in an ever-changing environment. The ability to be effective in our day to day responsibilities hinges on just how influential we are, not only at the field level, but at the mid and upper management levels, as well. Many of us, it is fair to say, feel we are not influential and that management and, at times, the employees really do not care about the safety portion of the business operations. As we drive toward the beginning of a new millennium, do we have a "product" that will sell or are we just filling a position and drawing a paycheck? Are we influential with the people that count? What does it take to influence the necessary people to accomplish our goal of providing management with the proper information to manage the operations in a safe manner?
Some safety professionals are very influential and the result of their success is evident in the organizations they provide services to. Are these professionals blessed with a "golden tongue" or what? Does their management team follow them like blind sheep going off to slaughter? We dare not believe that. So if some of us can be influential, then why can't many of us get to first base when it comes to influencing management and employees to manage the safety process? Dare to say, many of us have the influence, but fail to use it effectively. If we have it, then why doesn't it work? Could it be:
Our failure to take the audience with us?
Assuming the key players share identical goals?
Ignoring emotional reactions to our proposals?
Forgetting that men and women are irrational?
We try too hard?; We have no knowledge of others "hidden agendas?"
We underestimate the political dimensions of organizational life?
A few months ago, I discovered a book authored by Mary Bragg by the name of "Reinventing Influence - How to Get Things Done in a World Without Authority." She brilliantly identifies our changing environment, what power and influence are, and a four-step process to being more influential. All I could think of is this is exactly what many safety professionals are lacking. Many of us do not have the authority. Someone else does. How do we influence those with authority to make safetyrelated decisions that will effect the welfare of the organization? As I read the book, I realized that not only were her concepts and ideas apropos to my individual success and effectiveness, but to me as a safety professional and businessperson, as well. We are cast into an environment that is rapidly changing. We must be able to adapt to those changes for maximum influence or be forever placed in a osition to be cast upon.
