๐บ๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ป๐. ๐ญ๐น๐ถ๐ด ๐ท๐ถ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฌ ๐ถ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฌ๐น ๐ป๐ถ ๐บ๐ผ๐ท๐ท๐ถ๐น๐ป.
Unfortunately, I notice that most conversations on safety topics tend to create a superior-subordinate or police-enforcement-versus-offender dynamic.
Two of the biggest obstacles to an effective relationship between operational teams and safety professionals are the “critical approach” and “conversational control.”
The “critical approach” occurs when you express disagreement or dissatisfaction with someone’s actions, choices, or behavior by highlighting what you knowโor believeโthey did wrong.
When we hold “control” in a conversation, we are exerting power over others. Even if done diplomatically and without monologuing, the conversation remains fundamentally about us and our agenda.
If the purpose of the conversation is risk awareness and behavioral change, it is unlikely that such an attitude will motivate the other person to change their risky behavior.
To achieve real change, trust must be built and the motivation behind risky behaviors must be understood.
In the Social Psychology of Risk (SPoR), we say that asking questions and listening are the best ways to empower others to express themselves and reveal how they perceive dangers and handle risk.
To do this effectively, we need to learn three essential conversational skills: suspending our own agenda and observing, listening actively, and asking open-ended questions.
In Corporate Dynamics courses, I observe that during practical exercises, most participants struggle to focus on the other person and find it difficult to set aside their own agenda.
To become a stronger listener and more effective support to your colleagues, I invite you to join the SAFETY LEADERSHIP courses. The program is fully customizable.
You will learn how to be other-focused, how to let go of power and control, how to ask open-ended questions, and how to improve your ability to build trust and empower others in addressing risk.
Latest posts by Decebal Marin (see all)
- ๐บ๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ป๐. ๐ญ๐น๐ถ๐ด ๐ท๐ถ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฌ ๐ถ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฌ๐น ๐ป๐ถ ๐บ๐ผ๐ท๐ท๐ถ๐น๐ป. - June 10, 2026
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- CHANGING THE SAFETY PARADIGM THROUGH METAPHORS. - October 21, 2025
- Situational Awareness - September 18, 2025
Thank you, Rob. SPOR is powerful and deep. At this point, we are just scratching the surface.
Policing doesn’t work as a method of safety and also anchors safety to a metaphor of ‘catching people out’. This is used by the regulators often as well to no effect. Fear isn’t a motivator of very much, especially when the idea is to care for others.
You do a great job Dec, with Manu too. Romania is lucky to have you doing SPoR there.