May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Stay Curious, Promote Safety

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, it is key we remember safety is more than the physical bodies reporting for duty, safety is also about protecting our mental health and creating environments for all individuals to live, work and exist as their whole selves. 

May 5th marks the beginning of ‘Construction Safety Week’ and while it can never be overstated or overshared that safe work practices are critical, crucial and fundamental to everything we do- we must be of the mindset that it isn’t hardhats and high-vis only. 

The invisible safety hazards NEED recognition and as leaders in construction, we need to create the culture and environments that allow our teams to express their safety concerns above and beyond PPE(Personal Protective Equipment)

Where to Begin?

A Culture of Curiosity…

Creating a culture of curiosity is a great way to promote asking questions and seeking solutions through a team oriented lens. This allows the free flow of information in a judgement-free zone. What are some ways to make this happen…

1. Invite feedback.

Ask others for their opinions on your project, the timeline you are building, an issue you’ve run into 

1. ‘Just spit ballin’ here’ or ‘let me throw something at you, let me know what you think’... 

2. The ol improv adage… ‘yes, and…’

1. Don’t shut don’t conversation, build on it

3. Resolve conflict, don’t let it fester

1. Just because it went quiet, doesn’t mean it’s over. Be the bridge and when you need a bridge, find the right one that will lead you to the right path!

“You know what…nevermind…”

Part of helping leaders, employers, HR teams etc. find their achilles heel is observing how the team interacts. I cringe when I am sitting in a meeting and hear a ‘nevermind’ because I know what is hiding behind that word. Even more so when the ‘nevermind’ is accepted and the meeting continues. 

And I wonder to myself ‘who else noticed that?’ Meanwhile, the “nevermind” sayer’s shoulders are slumped, the phone has now come out and they are disengaged for the rest of the meeting. Another potential good idea, gone for good! If this is repeated behavior or an atmosphere of not making time and space to speak up, that can be a huge indicator that your workspace is not a safe one.

Speak Now

We are seeing a growing understanding that safety, employee satisfaction, retention, and success all go hand-in-hand. Employees who feel valued, seen and heard by their employer are less likely to report job dissatisfaction and seek employment elsewhere. 

The ‘why’ is no secret. Both employees and employers can sense when the culture of their workspace has gone astray and like any relationship you need to have mutual respect and trust before stepping up to the proverbial podium.

Don’t let a “what about…?” turn into a ‘why bother?’

• What is your team doing to promote a culture of safety?
• Have you discussed ‘psychological safety’?
• Do you feel you have the permission to bring these topics forward to management?