What Is Humble Inquiry, and Why Is It Important for Safety Professionals?

This article explains humble inquiry, a practice of asking open-ended questions to build trust, foster collaboration, and uncover insights. It highlights how safety professionals can adopt this approach to engaging workers and identify risks.

Humble inquiry is an effective communication technique that emphasises the deliberate practice of asking open-ended, authentic questions to elicit thoughtful responses. This approach transcends superficial questioning, seeking to explore the deeper perspectives, experiences, and insights of individuals. Developed by organisational psychologist Edgar Schein, humble inquiry is grounded in the principles of curiosity, active listening, and a genuine desire to comprehend the viewpoints and motivations of others. For safety professionals, employing humble inquiry is essential, as it plays a critical role in nurturing a positive safety culture within organisations. By engaging workers in meaningful conversations, safety professionals can cultivate an atmosphere where employees feel appreciated and understood, which in turn fosters greater engagement and proactive involvement in safety initiatives. Additionally, humble inquiry facilitates the identification of systemic issues by promoting open discussions about workplace practices, enabling safety professionals to pinpoint discrepancies between established protocols and actual behaviours. This method not only builds trust between safety teams and frontline workers but also encourages collaboration and shared accountability for safety outcomes throughout the organisation.

What Is Humble Inquiry?

Humble inquiry involves:

1. Asking Questions: Using open-ended questions that encourage others to share their thoughts and experiences.
2. Listening Actively: Focusing on understanding what the other person is saying without interrupting or making assumptions.
3. Demonstrating Respect: Valuing the knowledge and perspectives of others, especially frontline workers who interact directly with workplace risks.

Why Is Humble Inquiry Important for Safety Professionals?

1. Builds Trust and Openness

   • Workers are more likely to report hazards, incidents, or near-misses when they feel their input is valued and respected.
   • Humble inquiry creates an environment where employees are comfortable sharing concerns without fear of judgment.

2. Uncovers "Work as Done"

   • By asking workers how tasks are performed in real-world conditions, safety professionals can identify discrepancies between procedures ("work as imagined") and actual practices ("work as done").
   • This helps in addressing systemic issues and improving processes.

3. Encourages Collaboration

   • Humble inquiry fosters a sense of partnership between safety professionals and workers, breaking down hierarchical barriers.
   • Collaborative problem-solving leads to more effective and practical safety solutions.

4. Enhances Learning

   • Open-ended questions lead to richer insights into operational challenges, risks, and successes.
   • Safety professionals can use this understanding to develop targeted improvements and training programs.

5. Improves Communication

   • Asking thoughtful questions and listening actively improves relationships between safety teams and other departments.
   • Better communication enhances engagement in safety initiatives across the organisation.

6. Promotes a Positive Safety Culture

   • A culture of curiosity and respect reinforces the importance of safety as a shared responsibility.
   • Workers feel empowered to take an active role in identifying and addressing safety concerns.

Examples of Humble Inquiry in Action

1. During Incident Investigations:
   • Instead of asking, “Why didn’t you follow the procedure?” ask, “Can you walk me through what happened and how you approached the situation?”
2. In Routine Interactions:
   • Replace, “Did you check the safety checklist?” with, “What challenges do you face when completing the checklist?”
3. When Introducing Changes:
   • Ask workers, “What do you think about this new process, and how could we make it work better for you?”

Benefits of Humble Inquiry for Safety Professionals

• Builds stronger relationships with workers and management.
• Identifies risks and operational challenges more effectively.
• Improves engagement and participation in safety programs.
• Supports continuous learning and improvement.
• Strengthens safety culture across the organization.

Humble inquiry represents a valuable approach to communication, centred on the practice of asking open-ended questions with genuine curiosity and respect. This method transcends basic inquiry, nurturing authentic connections between safety professionals and workers. By engaging in this meaningful dialogue, safety professionals can uncover deeper insights into the workplace realities, which allows for the identification of potential risks and challenges that might otherwise remain hidden. This process not only fosters trust but also cultivates an environment where employees feel secure and valued when sharing their experiences.

When safety professionals adopt humble inquiry, they gain the ability to discern the intricacies of "work as done," which refers to the actual practices and behaviours observed in the field, in contrast to what is documented in safety protocols. This insight is essential, as it reveals discrepancies between established procedures and real-world implementation, facilitating targeted improvements that enhance overall safety outcomes.

Humble inquiry encourages collaboration by dismantling traditional hierarchies within the organisation. When workers perceive that their voices are acknowledged and respected, they are more likely to engage in safety discussions and initiatives. This collaborative approach not only yields more effective solutions but also empowers workers to take ownership of safety practices, reinforcing a shared responsibility for maintaining a safe work environment.

Ultimately, engaging workers through thoughtful dialogue equips safety professionals to implement practical and enduring improvements that benefit the entire organisation. By fostering a culture of openness and curiosity, safety professionals can promote continuous progress and emphasise the significance of safety as a collective value throughout all levels of the organisation.