On construction sites, there are certain advisers who call themselves “leaders” in health and safety.
We meet several styles: specialists, office arm-chair generals, those who only want to climb the professional ladder, the self-nominated, the enlightened ones who believe they know it all, etc. Of these advisers, there are undoubtedly those who have all the qualities to be leaders on the ground but let me bring you my vision of things.
The main ingredients for being a good leader are authenticity and humbly being yourself. Authenticity can be defined as true and unique and not copied and false. Are you trustworthy? Do you support your workers? Do you think more about your career or the well-being of your workers? Now I can understand that the current economic situation can produce the fear of losing your job, however…
The time has come to be that person on whom workers can rely, knowing that there is no underlying personal motive. To be a true leader is to see beyond the horizon for the well-being of workers and your organization. When you are authentic, you are different, and your differences draw people around you. By being authentic, you can have a positive influence on your team and the organizations that revolve around you. When you are real and clear-thinking, you notice a marked improvement in the safety attitude of your team and the reception they have of your advice on safety. Most of them are tired of hearing the same speeches during their breaks. They listen to you out of respect, but it goes in one ear and out the other immediately. It's time to speak to your troops as if they were your brothers, your neighbours, your friends. Does this mean that you will all become inseparable friends? No, but it will change the relationship of boss, officer, Supreme Being into one of collaborator who acts for the good of the whole team.
Being a leader is not a title, it is an attitude.
Are you ethical? Are you loyal and consistent? Are you a visionary, listening to others? Continue as such by setting an example and being protective and concerned for the well-being of others, being honest and having compassion (to name a few).
You must be able to make difficult decisions without support when it is for the good of the team or the health of a worker. Understand that you can make mistakes and learn from them. If nobody made a mistake, there would be no erasure on pencils…
When a worker brings you a professional or personal problem, take the time to listen to it even if it delays your planning. Listen not to answer, but to understand. When you send a message, analyze your workers to detect their fear or misunderstanding. Perhaps you have not communicated properly? Remember there is more than one way to skin a cat!
Each site is unique, due to the composition of the workers and the environment; it's up to you to modify the ingredients to give the desired flavour to your site.
