Safety Professionals Development Series: Understanding Human Behaviour - An introduction to neuroscience & psychology

Have you ever wondered:

• Why do people do what they do? 
• Why do they make the decisions they make?
• Why don't they remember the training that they have been provided?
• Why do people perceive risk differently?
• Why do they put themselves 'in the line of fire'?
• Why don't they keep their mind on the task?

These questions and many more are often asked by safety professionals worldwide as we all search for the holy grail, the ultimate answer to how we stop workplace incidents from happening.  

Over the years, there has been an increased focus on safety professionals' qualifications with the introduction of certification programs, etc. However, our formal training still fails to acknowledge and address the fundamental psychology and neuroscience of human behaviour. 

This masterclass is not intended to replace formal safety training and doesn't seek to 'compete' with the various safety methodologies currently in the marketplace (Safety I, Safety II, Safety Differently, HOP, etc.). What it does seek to do is provide you with foundational knowledge in psychology and neuroscience to better understand human behaviour. 

By participating in this masterclass, you will gain invaluable insights into how people think, learn, and make decisions. This understanding will enable you to enhance engagement, foster better relationships, improve investigation quality and outcomes, and enhance decision-making and safety outcomes within your organizations. The practical tools and knowledge you acquire will not only benefit your professional life but also contribute to creating safer, more inclusive, and high-performing workplaces. 

My name is Deanne Boules, and I am your facilitator for the Masterclass in Leading Safety with the Brain in Mind: Understanding Human Behaviour. I have been working in safety for over 21 years, and before that, I was a police officer. Early on in my career, I attended many workplace fatalities and serious injury incidents, and the impact of those experiences has been profound. Those experiences, combined with my curious mind and naive frustration at the time trying to make sense of why people did want they did, why they put themselves in the situation they did, why they made the decisions they made, etc., were key drivers for me to pursue my studies in human behaviour. Over the years, I have studied psychology and neuroscience. Brain-based coaching, emotional intelligence, conversational intelligence, psychological safety, diet and nutrition, sports science, human performance, and many other courses have enabled me to understand human behaviour. It has transformed the way I approach workplace safety and the employee experience in the workplace. 

In this interactive and informative masterclass, we cover: 

Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience

Objective:  Provide a foundational understanding of psychology and neuroscience. 

Content: 

Basics of brain structure and function. 

Key psychological theories and principles. 

How the brain processes information and influences behaviour.

Understanding Human Behaviour

Objective: Explore the factors that influence human behaviour. 

Content: 

Social and environmental influences on behaviour. 

Emotional and cognitive processes. 

Motivation and its impact on workplace behaviour. 

Engagement Strategies

Objective: Learn techniques to enhance engagement with colleagues, peers, and senior leaders. 

Content: 

Building rapport and trust. 

Effective communication strategies. 

Creating an inclusive and supportive work environment. 

Understanding and Mitigating Bias

Objective: Identify and address biases that impact decision-making. 

Content:

Types of biases (e.g., confirmation bias, implicit bias). 

How biases influence workplace decisions and interactions. 

Strategies to mitigate bias and promote fairness. 

Learning Styles and Information Processing

Objective: Understand how different learning styles affect how people take in, process, retain, and retrieve information. 

Content:

Overview of various learning styles (e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic). 

Cognitive processes involved in learning and memory. 

Tailoring training and communication to different learning styles. 

Developing Inclusive, Brain-Friendly Policies and Procedures

Objective: Create policies and procedures that support inclusivity and align with the brain's workings. 

Content:

Principles of inclusive design in workplace policies. Understanding cognitive load and reducing complexity in procedures. Techniques for creating supportive environments that enhance well-being and productivity. 

Program Delivery 

• Format: Virtual masterclass + access to modules to reinforce learning. (available for six months)
• Support: Email and phone support + access to an exclusive community 'channel' to share learnings, ask questions and celebrate successes.
• Materials: Training manuals, interactive exercises, case studies, and access to online resources.

Who is this masterclass for?

This masterclass is designed for a diverse audience, including:

Safety Professionals: 

Individuals responsible for workplace safety and health who wish to deepen their understanding of human behaviour to create safer work environments. Safety officers, managers, and consultants aiming to enhance their skills in engaging employees and promoting an inclusive safety always culture. 

HR Professionals: 

HR managers, specialists, and consultants looking to integrate psychological and neuroscience insights into their practices to improve employee engagement, performance, and well-being. Professionals focused on developing inclusive policies and procedures that cater to diverse learning styles and cognitive needs. 

Front Line Leaders: 

Supervisors, team leaders, and managers on the front lines who seek to improve their leadership capabilities by understanding the behavioural aspects of their team members. Leaders striving to create a supportive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace culture. 

Anyone Interested in Understanding Human Behavior: 

Individuals from any industry or role who are curious about how human behaviour impacts workplace dynamics and safety. Those who wish to apply psychological and neuroscience principles to foster better relationships and decision-making processes within their organisations. 

By attending this masterclass, participants will gain valuable insights and practical tools to understand and influence human behaviour. This will ultimately contribute to physically and psychologically safer, more inclusive, and high-performing workplaces.

Your Facilitator: Deanne Boules, Founder & Chief Enabling Officer Insync Workplace Solutions & The Centre for Human-Centred Leadership®

I have worked in safety for over 21 years (including five years with the regulator); before that, I was a police officer. Early on in my career, I attended many workplace fatalities and serious injury incidents, and those experiences had a profound impact on my career.

Like most safety professionals, when faced with a workplace fatality, serious injury incident, or near miss or when conducting incident investigations, I often asked the questions: Why did they do what they did? Why did they make the decision they made? Why didn't they remember the training they were provided? Why did they put themselves in the 'line of fire'? Why didn't they keep their minds on the tasks? Etc.

Many safety professionals, leaders and managers I have worked with over the years would accept the action or inaction as simply being 'human error', 'complacency', etc. However, I couldn't accept that; I naturally have a curious mind, I always have, so when faced with these situations, I always felt that I was missing something, so I studied psychology and neuroscience and a whole host of other human-centred courses, which have enabled me to understand human behaviour better and have transformed the way I approach workplace safety. They have made me a better safety and HR professional, coach, leader, facilitator, trainer and investigator. It has also transformed how I work, including designing, developing, and delivering people, safety, leadership, change management and employee engagement programs and initiatives.

If you work with people—and let's face it, we all do—understanding how the brain, including its limitations and how it impacts our actions and behaviour, is critical for every leader and safety professional. We must genuinely want to engage our people, improve our safety performance, and build high-performing, inclusive, physically and psychologically safe workplaces where everyone thrives and goes home safe, well, and fulfilled each day.

Known for my practical, integrated, human-centred approach to health and safety, I have been named #12 in the Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Workplace Safety, in the top 50 in Coaching, the top 100 in Human Resources, and the top 25 in Creativity by Thinkers360. Additionally, I was honoured as one of the Top Voices in the APAC Region in 2023 by Thinkers360.