WHAA National Workplace Health Conference 2015

Using belief-based change to create safer, healthier and more positiveworkplaces

Robert WhitechurchThe Effective People Group

Background

• After some problems with stalled progress on improving safety performance, we were invited in to rethink the approach

• Instead of continuing to focus on behavioural change, we looked at changing beliefs

• Not easy - less visible, more personal / tied to identity, outcome uncertain

A Conversation about

A Conversation about Culture

• A system of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs, which governs how people behave in organizations

• The values and behaviours that contribute to the unique social and psychological environment of an organisation

• The way we do things around here• Civilization in the workplace• An organisation’s immune system

A Conversation about Culture

What happens when no-one is looking.

Belief-based change

• Designed and delivered skills-based training in three areas that assisted people to recognise, understand and modify their beliefs:

– Limiting and Enabling beliefs

– Explanatory style

– Affirmations

Limiting and Enabling Beliefs

• Identified by ‘universal’ claims– “Always”– “Never”– “Ever”

• Supported by common examples (personal and organisational)– I am no good with numbers– No one ever listens to what we say– Sales are always down in January– Safety always slows us down

Limiting and Enabling Beliefs

• Reflecting on the impact of limiting beliefs

• Reframing limiting beliefs (that matter):– Examples that people can try– Help in life away from work

Explanatory Style

• The influence of explanatory style or ‘self-talk’

• Ways to identify and control it– In yourself– In others

Explanatory Style

People explain things to themselves and others along three dimensions:

PERSONAL – how much of this was due to me?

PERMANANT – how long will the impact last?

PERVASIVE – what else will this affect?

3 P’s

Explanatory Style

• globalises failure

• eternalises failure

• good will not last

• good in one aspect only

• good caused by luck

• isolates failure

• temporises failure

• good will last

• good all round

• good caused by them

Pessimistic ES Optimistic ES

Explanatory Style - Optimism and Pessimism Shaping your self-talk

In Response to Good Events:

OPTIMIST’S SELF TALK

Personal – “I caused it”

Permanent – “It will last – this will endure”

Pervasive – “It will help everything I do”

“Everything will go well now”

PESSIMIST’S SELF TALK

Personal – “I had little to do with it”

Permanent – “It will pass”, “It won’t last”

Pervasive – “Nothing much will change”,

“Everything else is bad”

In Response to Bad Events:

OPTIMIST’S SELF TALK

Personal – “I’m only responsible for part

of it”

Permanent – “It will pass”

Pervasive – “This only affects me in one

area” “It’s not like me to have this problem”

PESSIMIST’S SELF TALK

Personal – “I caused it”

Permanent – “It will last forever”, “This

always happens”

Pervasive – “This affects every area of my

life”

Affirmations• Their role in supporting enabling beliefs• Stated as already done – ‘present state’• Using absolutes so there is no alternative• Avoid using ‘will’ or ‘try’ • States what is wanted, not what is to be

avoided• Language around explaining when experiences

don’t match the affirmed state

“I always make four-foot putts.”

J. Nicklaus

Affirmations• Their role in supporting enabling beliefs• Stated as already done – ‘present state’• Using absolutes so there is no alternative• Avoid using ‘will’ or ‘try’ • States what is wanted, not what is to be

avoided• Language around explaining when experiences

don’t match the affirmed state

Outcomes

• Reduced fatal crashes by 59%• Reduced severe crashes by over 50%• Reduced fatigue - related crashes by 27%• Reduced preventable crashes by more than

12% year on year

Outcomes

• Transferrable benefits beyond safety:– $24m in productivity savings– Daily customer contacts up by 600%– Loads per day up by 27%– Reduced carbon emissions by approx. 544,311

tonnes per annum– Experienced driver hires 100% from 37%

Thank You