How to Continue Building Buy-in, Trust

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers can continue building buy-in by creating alliances or partnerships between management, unions and employees.

The agency said a compelling reason for the change must be spelled out to everyone. Employees must understand why they are being asked to change what they normally do and what it will look like if they are successful. This needs to be done up front, the agency said. If people get wind that something "is going down" and haven't been formally told anything, they will tend to naturally resist and opt out.

To accomplish this task, employers must build trust. Trust, the agency said, is a critical part of accepting change, and management needs to know that this is the bigger picture. Trust will occur as different levels within the organization work together and begin to see success.

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In addition, the agency said it is important to identify key personnel to champion the change. These people must be visible and will be the ones to articulate the reasons for the changes. People frequently respond when they realize how many of their coworkers or subordinates are being injured and that they may be next, OSHA said.

February 26, 2009

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