Author:brett-solomon

Praise from a manager can encourage safe behaviour in the workplace. BRETT SOLOMON takes a look at the science that backs this up An unassuming man was playing his violin outside a metro station in Washington DC, in the United States (US). The majority of unsuspecting commuters ignored the fiddler as they walked past to catch their trains. Some gave a few dollars in an attempt to help out. A handful stopped to listen and enjoy his music, but, for […]

Like sports coaches, wise managers empower their employees to make necessary decisions within their roles and responsibilities – and the rules of the game offer the necessary controls In the build-up to the Rugby World Cup, it has been noteworthy how much attention the coaches have received. They play an integral role in the success of the team; even though they never run onto the field, never make a gruelling tackle, push with all their might in a scrum, or […]

Do you sometimes battle to understand human behaviour in a stressful situation? Understanding how the brain works will help Without warning, smoke gushes into your office. You are confused about what is going on. Your heartbeat starts to race. Then the emergency siren goes off. You know you need to evacuate the building. With the abundance of smoke, you are struggling to breathe and, with burning eyes, you cannot see down the passageway. Not knowing where the source of the […]

Safety cannot be spoken about in isolation. It needs to be integrated into all discussions and actions in the workplace. The trick is to intentionally use directional language that takes companies to where they want to be. While there are many factors and nuances that make each culture unique, the most significant distinguishing feature is language. What is the primary difference between Zulus and Xhosas, or Germans and the French? It is the language they speak. Language plays such a […]

Often it is the employees that can influence relational dynamics in their workplace – but knowing how to do so successfully is key My primary focus is on how to have a direct influence on staff performance and impact their safety culture. However, the other night I was watching The Devil Wears Prada, a cute feel-good movie that revolves around Andrea Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway), an aspiring journalist who is trying to make it in New York. She eventually […]

Understanding how the human brain works, and how the hormones it produces affect our actions, is a key tool in fostering healthy relationships and positive attitudes While chatting with a senior engineer about his safety strategy I noticed that he was completely distracted. Clearly something else was bothering him. I paused the conversation to ask what was wrong. Emotionally he blurted out how he could not deal with his boss’s aggressive, unsympathetic and demeaning manner. He admitted that, despite wanting […]

To create a successful health and safety culture in an organisation, it is important to invest in the employees and management to ensure that they are engaged and committed to a safer environment and a more successful business. Why does zero harm remain so elusive? If you think of the amount of time, effort and money that the average company invests in safety, one would expect to hear of fewer incidents. I understand that this is a complicated matter and […]

How do we break through the safety ceiling? Implementing more safety systems or procedures is not the answer … engaging our people is. “More? Yes, we need to do more for safety!” This is the current cry from the heart and lament of the friends, family and co-workers concerning the ongoing injuries and fatalities of mine workers. Our hearts go out to them, and their voices need to be heard. Something must be done, and urgently. But what? Mining houses […]

How does our emotional state impact our decision-making ability in the workplace? Significantly, says Brett Solomon. In a study, the universities of Ben Gurion and Columbia scrutinised over 1 000 rulings of judges presiding over parole applications. A startling fact was uncovered: 65 percent were granted at the beginning of the day, steadily declining to almost none in the afternoon. Approvals shot back to 65 percent again after the judges took a break, only to steadily dwindle back down again. […]