The Hitting Home? model increases professional drivers’ influencing opportunities and lets their voice be heard

When a common voice can be heard and people have the opportunity to influence their work, the well-being of personnel increases. In the transportation sector, the personnel’s influencing opportunities are unclear in many ways. Meeting discussions and corridor conversations are not implemented into concrete actions. A straightforward and easy joint development model for work ability promotion was developed within the Young Driver Can! project of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The Hitting Home model is a tool providing information on employees’ thoughts and on issues that may require development.

“The Hitting Home model is a tool that an entrepreneur, occupational health care professional, active association member or trainer can use for the joint development of the workplace. The tool is participatory and does not require big investments. In addition, employees and entrepreneurs of many different companies can participate in workshops at the same time,” says Specialist Susanna Kemppainen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH).

The Hitting Home model for small and medium-sized transportation companies is carried out as an exercise that begins with a drawing task. In small groups, drivers draw cars, which are used to help them ponder the characteristics of a good professional driver, for example. The characteristics mentioned in the drawings are then placed through joint discussion in the Work Ability House that models the work ability in the form of a house. Different floors of the house describe personal resources of the individual, work and working conditions.

“The aim is to generate inspiring discussion, to find possible issues that need development at workplace and to identify issues that are already in order,” says Project Manager, Senior Specialist Anne Salmi from FIOH. She continues that also issues that are already in order should be listed and taken into account, for it creates experience of success and provides more power for work.

Things should be called by their proper names

The Hitting Home model has been tested and developed together with professional drivers, taxi entrepreneurs and medium-sized combined transportation companies.

“The drawing task may be met with amusement at first, but the model is able to spontaneously reveal profound views once the work gets going,” explains Kemppainen.

In one car drawing made in a workshop, the fuel tank represented fuelling by healthy nutrition and the headlights the good activity level of the driver. The back seat represented good sleep and persons sitting on the back seat reminded of bearing the family and hobbies in mind.

“In meeting discussions, one rarely gets to engage in such profound discussion about issues affecting one’s own well-being at work. For example about the fact that mere facial expressions and small gestures may put a co-worker in a bad or good mood. Ultimately, participants have been very proud of their drawings,” Salmi continues.

Hitting home requires good drive from the leader

The drawings of the car are presented to other participants of the workshop. Under direction of the workshop’s leader, the characteristics mentioned in the drawings will be placed on the different floors of the Work Ability House, and they can also be evaluated. The placement helps participants to see to which areas of work ability the characteristics and potential development areas are related to.

“This phase usually provokes the most intense and important discussion. In order for it to be successful, the leader must be familiar with the Work Ability House model and have a positive attitude toward leading the whole exercise. The leader can also make use of driver-related humour,” hints Kemppainen. The aim and purpose of the exercise should be explained clearly at the beginning. When the exercise is led with a positive attitude all the way until the end, it surprises participants in a positive way and results in good development ideas from the best experts in the field.

The Young Driver Can! project lasts two years and it is founded by the European Social Fund (ESF).

Further information

Specialist Susanna Kemppainen, tel. +358 43 824 3390, susanna.kemppainen[at]ttl.fi
Senior Specialist Anne Salmi, tel. +358 43 824 1342, anne.salmi[at]ttl.fi

Get to know the Hitting Home? joint development model: http://www.ttl.fi/en/research/research_projects/alert_behind_the_wheel/Documents/HITTING%20HOME.pdf
A free printed copy of the Hitting Home model can be ordered by email from anne.salmi[at]ttl.fi.

Additional information about the Work Ability House: www.ttl.fi/en/health/wai/multidimensional_work_ability_model

Young Driver Can! project: www.ttl.fi/en/research/research_projects/alert_behind_the_wheel

Turn the steering wheel into the direction of well-being at work – with the help of the work ability management model. Start from the method that is best suited to your company. Read more here: www.ttl.fi/en/research/research_projects/alert_behind_the_wheel/steeringwheel

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health researches, develops and specializes in well-being at work. It promotes occupational health and safety and the well-being of workers. It is an independent institution under public law, working under the administrative sector of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. It has six regional offices, and its headquarters are in Helsinki. It employs about 750 people.