Clues

Last week, we asked, "What do you depend on for non-verbal clues as to other's intentions or approach?

Responses included:

Eye contact - especially when the other person in a conversation keeps looking away. Posture and gestures - attentive and serious people don't need to stand at attention, but slouchy and fidgety provide clues.

Someone who answers a cell phone in the middle of a face to face conversation with me, and proceeds to carry on a conversation with the caller. i tend to just end our conversation by walking away - obviously s/he wasn't very interested in what we were discussing anyway.

1. Does your host at a mill and their mill staff consistently wear the required PPE? If not, check the housekeeping. One or both indicate behaviour in doing things the right way is lacking. 2. How is the work environment in the mill control room(s)? Clean? Friendly to visitors and readily answer your questions? Do you feel the tension when your host enters the control room? If you are going to be running a mill trial at this mill, you will need to do some extra planning to be sure your plans take these red flags into consideration. As you get acquainted with the mill your going to work at, there will be a tour. If your host is greeted coldly by some of his peers and operators, you may be working with the wrong person.

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