9 | Stakeholder
management
Collaboration
This is a way of working that requires
individuals to find out stakeholders’ needs,
expectations and motivations while
building a rapport with strategic partners.
It involves building strong networks with
stakeholders and promoting resource and
information sharing, while treating them
with respect. Being able to negotiate
effectively, find common ground or offer
viable and constructive alternatives will
allow OSH professionals to be collaborative
business partners and colleagues.
Being the ‘trusted advisor’
This skill requires OSH professionals
to use their experience, training,
knowledge and subject matter expertise
to advise internal and external customers
on the best way to undertake a series of
activities and deliver on business intent.
To be trusted advisors, professionals must
display a range of behaviours that illustrate
they are disciplined, professional and
trustworthy and act consistently
with integrity.
Negotiating
Negotiating constructively towards a
win-win solution is an expectation of OSH
professionals. Exploring creative solutions
with others to gain successful outcomes
is critical. Individuals should prepare and
run effective negotiations in a constructive
manner and make realistic compromises,
while maintaining an objective and
non-emotional distance from the
arguments. Focus should achieve value-
added results and outcomes.
10 | Personal
performance
Personal responsibilities
and accountabilities
This requires OSH professionals to
understand, apply and work within
legislative requirements, approved
standards and company policy. In so doing
they must ensure that they meet moral and
social requirements of the OSH ethos,
ensuring every employee has a right to
work in a healthy and safe environment
without risk of injury. Critical to this is the
ability to ensure that they are able to
balance those ethical, moral, social and
cost challenges of the role.
Self-motivation and discipline
OSH professionals are obliged to
undertake their own self-development,
often being the only specialist in an
organisation. This work must include
self-awareness of strengths, weaknesses
and opportunities for development;
accountability for own behaviour,
deliverables, health and wellbeing; an
awareness and understanding of current
and evolving best practice; a willingness
to develop skills or knowledge required;
and a commitment to continuing
professional development (CPD).
Prioritising work
Prioritising work is part of an OSH
professional’s daily responsibilities.
Working on their own initiative, in a
self-directed and autonomous manner, is
essential. They should also be able to work
without guidance, prioritising issues, tasks
and activities effectively and efficiently to
deliver personal and business objectives.
Driven by results
OSH professionals will be able to generate
commitment and enthusiasm from others
to set and achieve challenging goals
and objectives. They should be able
to navigate problems in a nimble
and agile way, even
when they are complex. Constant
monitoring of results and ensuring quality
and delivery are achieved as planned
provide opportunity for continuous
improvement in service delivery across the
business. Doing this demands commercial
acumen and a desire to strive with
colleagues in other disciplines to improve
productivity.
Problem-solving
This includes the requirement to investigate,
assess and evaluate issues and events that
have an impact on the business. Problems
will range from the simple to more complex
and will require the deployment of a
multitude of tools and techniques to
support analysis and synthesis of
information. OSH professionals are used to
contributing to solving business problems
in an effective, risk-conscious but efficient
way. Generating potential solutions by
applying consultative, creative and
innovative practices against pre-set criteria
in a positive way will help to facilitate
successful outcomes.
Innovation and creativity
These include developing and embedding
approaches to innovative and creative
working, quick to spot and capitalise on
emerging trends, providing insightful
solutions to improve business effectiveness
and productivity. The OSH professional
identifies and uses a range of mechanisms,
tools, processes and behaviours that are
thorough in seeking viable ideas for
improvement.
Behavioural competencies
These competencies cover how the OSH professional conducts themselves
in the workplace. They include working with stakeholders, ensuring good
personal performance and professionalism, communication and working
effectively with others. These competencies underpin the building of
successful working relationships.
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