From safety professional to safety leader: why and how?

Christian discussed the critical transition from a safety professional to a safety leader. The discussion explored the differences between the two roles, the importance of this transition, and practical steps that safety professionals can take to develop the skills and mindset needed to become leaders.

Highlights:

- Defining the safety leader: Participants shared their thoughts on what makes a safety leader, including inspiring, motivating, creating a safety culture, and influencing senior leaders.
- The transition from safety professional to safety leader: The conversation delved into the shift from technical safety skills to soft skills like influence, communication, and strategic thinking.
- Benefits of becoming a safety leader: Personal benefits like increased influence, career advancement, and recognition were highlighted, alongside organisational benefits like improved safety culture, productivity, and employee engagement.
- The importance of communication: Participants emphasized the importance of effectively communicating safety issues to all levels of the organisation, tailoring the message to different audiences.
- Building relationships and influence: The discussion focused on developing relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation and understanding their needs and motivations.
- Measuring success: The need for both lagging and leading indicators was discussed, with an emphasis on celebrating positive outcomes and recognising progress.
- Being a safety leader in practice: Participants shared their experiences, including the importance of personal development, the need to be a business partner, and the challenges of convincing organisations to prioritise safety.
- Developing leadership skills: The session offered advice on pursuing leadership training, building relationships, and being open and transparent.
- Next episode preview: The next Safety Roundtable will focus on "The Insurer Carrot," discussing how to secure funding for safety improvements from insurance companies.

Actions:

Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/
Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/