Dear SafetyXChange Members,

At every workplace there's some guy or gal who's hard to work with. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some are defensive; others are manipulative; some are always trying to steal the spotlight; others like to pit colleagues against each other and "divide and rule." We all have frustrating tales to tell.

But we need to find a way to deal with these individuals. For most of us, success at work is dependent on our ability to forge effective and collaborative relationships. Conversely, relationships that are ineffective, adversarial and lacking in trust can undermine our best works and thwart our careers. As safety leaders, you also have an obligation to create the kind of climate that empowers the individuals you oversee to build and maintain effective collaborative relationships.

Radical Collaboration

Creating such a climate requires skill and insight. I know of an excellent resource that can help you gain these things: a book by James W. Tamm and Ronald J. Luyet called Radical Collaboration: Five Essential Skills to Overcome Defensiveness and Build Successful Relationships.

Tamm and Luyet present a compelling case for developing strong collaborative skills within an organization. They acknowledge that the preconditions for collaboration are the personalities of the individuals involved. But they also maintain that the organizational backdrop is of critical importance.

Moreover, creating the right environment for collaboration is essential to the organization's own success. "Collaborative capital," according to the authors, is as important to the success of an organization as intellectual or financial capital.

The 5 Skills

The book analyzes the five essential skills for successful collaborative relationships:

1. Collaborative Intention
2.
Truthfulness
3.
Self-Accountability
4.
Self-Awareness and Awareness of Others
5.
Problem-Solving and Negotiating

Conclusion

Reading Radical Collaboration can help your career in two ways: First, it will show you how to create a climate where employees can build the kind of collaborative relationships necessary to advance your safety program and your organization's success. Second, it will help you significantly improve your own collaborative skills and, therefore, empower you to build your own collaborative relationships.

Wishing you career success,

Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet
www.execunet.com

EDITOR'S NOTE

Gorgeous George

Like most of the other people who live in the state of Connecticut , I'm a rabid fan of U Conn basketball. Last Sunday, U Conn was ousted from the NCAA tournament one win short of the Final Four. But I didn't grieve. I actually celebrated.

You see, my beloved Huskies didn't lose to your ordinary big-time college basketball program. They lost to George Mason, a little school in Fairfax, VA , with an enrollment of about 3,000. The NCAA tournament has been around for 81 years. George Mason's (nicknamed the Patriots) defeat of mighty U Conn is probably the greatest upset in tournament history.

I hate it when sports writers try to draw morals about life from the results of sporting events. But if you'll indulge me just this once, I believe that the George Mason story is perhaps the best example of what individuals of marginal talent can accomplish collectively when they work together for a common goal. That's why I think Lauryn's piece for this week is such a timely one.

Have a great weekend, enjoy the Final Four and let's go Patriots!

Glenn Demby
Editor-in-Chief
SafetyXChange

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Does Betting Lead to Violence?

Last week, we called on you to furnish evidence linking NCAA pools and other forms of workplace gambling to outbreaks of violence. Although we didn't receive - and still know of no - scientific evidence to show that betting fosters violence, we did receive a few compelling anecdotes.

Betting on Horseshoes

Here's what happened at my facility last summer. A group of production workers played horseshoes at lunch and at break each day. Unknown to us until the incident occurred was the fact that they had been betting on these games. One worker got upset at another worker for not paying his debt and there was a verbal argument which led to a shoving match that was broken up by a couple bystanders.

Please withhold my name and company

Betting on Football

When I was a young safety professional, I took an assignment in a facility that had been in operation since 1908. Most of the employees were third and fourth generation. Traditionally one employee would put together a Super Bowl pool and each employee participating would contribute $10/week all year long. The winner was to receive a rather large payout - in the $40-$50K range.

Well, my first Super Bowl at this location was a memorable one. The winner of the pool tried to collect his winnings but the organizer said he could not pay right away because the money was tied up in a CD for the next six weeks or so. The winner was not happy about having to wait for his money, so he enlisted the help of his friends, drew them a map of the facility, put an "X" where the organizer worked, and marked the door so they could come in unnoticed. Once the thugs had left the property, I received a call from a rather frightened employee. The company did have a policy of no gambling, but no one took it seriously, and I bet they still have the same pool going on today. Probably with a quicker payout.

I prefer that my name be withheld from publication

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

A Safe Way to Spring Ahead

By Catherine Jones and Glenn Demby

Remember to set your clocks one hour ahead this Sunday morning at 2 A.M. Although most welcome spring, not a few of us dislike the prospect of losing an hour's sleep. This might sound like petty griping. But the Harvard Medical School suggests that it's actually a safety issue. An article in the most recent issue of the Harvard Health Letter likens the loss of an hour's sleep from DST to jet lag and says it decreases focus, makes it harder for people to wake up in the morning and thus fosters increased rushing. The article lists the following precautions to lessen the risks associated with DST:

• Change your clocks early in the day on Saturday so you can get a headstart on the mental and physical adjustment;
• Get plenty of rest on Saturday and try not to alter your usual Saturday night bedtime and Sunday morning wake-up time;
• Don't nap on Sunday and wake up at the usual time on Monday; and
• Keep a light schedule on Monday and minimize driving.

Source: Harvard Health Beat, March 29, 2006.

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