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LeadershipandworkerinvolvementtoolkitEffectivecommunicationandgainingco-operationInformationsheetfromSevensteps>Step4>FurthertoolsWhyshouldIconsiderdevelopingmycommunicationskills?Goodtwo-waycommunicationisattheheartofhealthandsafety.It’snotjustaboutsayingtherightthingsbutalsoaboutlisteningtoothers.Bycommunicatingeffectivelyandshowingyourespectothers’opinions,youaremorelikelytogaintheirrespectandco-operation–whoeveryouaretalkingto.Goodcommunicationcan:enableyoutorespondtosafetyissues■quicklybeforeaccidentshappen;andimproveworkerco-operationand■commitmenttoyourbusiness.What’sthedifferencebetweenlisteningandgoodlistening?Oneaspectofeffectivecommunication–whichisoftenoverlooked–istheabilitytolisten,withresearchsuggestingthatweonlyactuallyrememberbetween25%–50%ofwhatwehear.Whensomeoneistalking,manypeoplearealreadythinkingaboutwhatthey’regoingtosayinresponseratherthanactually‘listening’.Theyarethereforenotfullyconcentratingandsomaynotunderstandwhatissaid–whichmaynotonlyaffectthewayjobsaredonebutcouldalsoleadtohealthandsafetyrisks.Thisiswheregoodlisteningisimportant.Payattentiontowhatisbeingsaid,askquestionsandevenoffersuggestionsaboutwhatyouaretold.Thiscanhelptoimproveworkingrelationships,gainingthetrustandco-operationneededtomakechangehappen.OthergoodlisteningtipsWhensomeonetellsyousomething,findawayofcommunicatingthatinformationbacktothem(eg‘“SoyouthinkweshouldchecktheladderseveryweekthenJohn?”)Repeatingbacksomethingthepersonhassaid,usingtheirwordsorphrases,isapowerfulwayofshowingyouarelistening.Summariseregularlywhatthey’vebeensayingtoyou(eg“SowhatyouaresayingJohnis…?”)Thisnotonlyshowsyouarelisteningbutalsohelpstheotherpersonthinkaboutwhatthey’vesaidsofar.It’salsoausefulwayofcheckingyouhaveacommonunderstandingofwhat’sbeensaid.Askthemtoexpandonwhatthey’vesaid(eg“CanyoutellmemoreaboutthatJohn?”)Usingtoomanyquestionscanfeellikeaninterrogation,sothisisanotherwayoffindingoutinformationinawaythatencouragestheotherpersontotalk.Regularlyaskforideasorsuggestions(eg“WhatwouldyousuggestJohn?”)Thissharescontrolofthediscussionandencouragescontributions.TodownloadthischecklistcompletetheLeadershipandworkerinvolvementtoolkit>Sevensteps>Step4>FurthertoolsTheLeadershipandWorkerInvolvementtoolkitisaimedparticularlyatsmallandmediumsizedbusinessesandisdesignedtohelpimproveyourhealthandsafetyandbringadditionalbenefitstoyourbusinessperformanceandproductivity.See:www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/Developedbytheconstructionindustry’sLeadershipandWorkerEngagementForum.HostedbyHSE12/11IunderstandgoodlisteningbutwhataboutthethingsIshouldsay?Muchofthisdependsonyourworkplaceandyourownstyleofcommunicationbutitisimportanttobeconstructiveandrememberthatworkershavedifferentlevelsofunderstanding.Whateverthesubject,itisimportanttomakesurethateachworkerreallyunderstandswhatyou’vetoldthem–andisnotsimplysayingtheydo.Encouragethemtoaskquestionsorevenoffersuggestionsfordoingthingsdifferently.Bydoingthis,youwillfindouthowmuchthey’vereallyunderstood,whilemakingthemfeeltheirideasandviewsarevalued.Whataboutbodylanguage?Bodylanguageisalsoimportanttocommunicationbecausenegativebodylanguage(basically,theoppositeoftheexamplesbelow)candamagetrustandaffectworkingrelationships.Thefollowingareexamplesofgoodbodylanguage:makingeyecontactwhensomeoneisspeakingtoyou;■givingthespeakeryourfullattention;■noddingorshakingyourhead,toshowyouragreementordisagreement;and■NOTdoingthingsliketappingyourpenordrummingyourfingers,whichshowsdisinterestorimpatience.■Doingthesethingswillshowyouareinterestedandlisteningtowhat’sbeingsaid;whichshouldmakethatpersonmorelikelytolistenwhenyouhavesomethingtosay.PracticeyourcommunicationskillsAswhenlearninganddevelopinganynewskill,youneedpracticetogetitright.Followthetipshereandintheotherpagesofthiswebsite(forexample,theFeedbackpagesofSteps4and6)andyouwillcommunicatemoreeffectivelywithcolleagues–whichisvitaltosafetyintheconstructionindustry.Remember,ifyoudon’tgiveworkersthechancetospeak–especiallyifyouaretheiremployer–they’llthinkyou’renotinterestedintheiropinions.Socreateopportunitiesfordiscussionabouthealthandsafetyandalwaystakethetimetolisten.Forfurtherinformation,see:www.hse.gov.uk/construction