S1 Ep18: Mighty Line Minute | Effective Safety Messaging: Empathy

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Let’s discuss the most crucial aspect of communications effectiveness that is essential to all safety communications and in safety messaging.
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In my opinion, the most critical element of effective safety communication is empathy. Safety messages resonate most deeply when they connect with people on an emotional level, demonstrating a genuine understanding of their concerns, fears, and priorities.

Empathy fosters trust and receptiveness, encouraging individuals to internalize safety rules and standards, and thus, taking them more seriously.
When people feel that their well-being is genuinely valued, they are far more likely to engage with safety protocols and processes and adopt safer behaviors.
So, while subject knowledge and the use of tools or props in communications are essential, empathy forms the foundation upon which effective safety communication is built.
I recall working on a new federal regulation involving food safety and food ingredient labeling. My efforts were on a volunteer basis, and I had a unique opportunity to work with a food safety regulator in Washington, DC.
This person was part of a team responsible for drafting a new food labelingregulation. I was there at my own expense, representing a national health safety organization, and was eager to add more light to the limitations of the expected proposed rule.
When we met, I began discussing the technical issues with the anticipatedregulation and how it could be improved. The individual did not seem to be paying serious attention to me, and at the same time, did not appear to fully understand how or why the proposed standard could be improved.
I was only able to gain her attention once I explained how mislabeling of food ingredients had caused severe injuries, illnesses, unnecessary surgeries, misdiagnoses, and even death in certain cases involving individuals whom I knew personally.
Eventually, I saw tears welling up in her eyes. I knew then that she was truly listening and finally engaged in a discussion involving the realities associated with the stories.
Without empathy, what can we accomplish? To ensure the effectiveness of your safety communications, supervisory, or toolbox meetings, it's crucial to bring empathy to the table.
Look at issues from an employee or an affected listener. For example, what’s in it for them? Why are we really discussing this topic? How can it improve everyone’s health and safety, their own lives, and by extension, their connections with others?
We can become better stewards of health and safety by illustrating how we work together as each other’s keepers throughout the work environment. And that takesempathy.
By bringing honest empathy into our conversations and communications, we arefar more likely to be effective, gain the trust of employees, and deliver positive results.
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