(53a) How to Influence the Organization

Process Safety professionals are typically not in the line management organization.  Instead, they serve as engineering team members, corporate staff and advisors.  Strictly speaking, they lack the authority to cause anything to happen.  Therefore, the Process Safety professional must know how to influence the organization to get things done.  If one lacks the authority to say “we will do this,” then they must be convincing when they say “we should do this.”  In order to influence someone, you must be able to present your idea in a way that shows the benefits significantly outweigh the costs.  This is sometimes obvious, but when it is not, or if the benefits are subtle and difficult to measure, then your credibility will have a significant impact on the decision.  Credibility is not a value or a skill.  It is instead a trust that is built over time.  Building credibility with individuals is accomplished in different ways based upon your relationship with the person, their level in the organization, the types of work interactions you have, and both their and your past experiences.  This article will discuss several different types of people with whom you may need to have credibility.  It will suggest ways to build your credibility, as well as ways to destroy it.