In this insightful episode of "The Art of Safety Leadership," we explore the critical foundation of effective leadership: self-awareness. Featuring leadership coach Anna Keen, who has spent 20 years developing safety professionals, and Liam Simpson, Head of Health, Safety & Wellbeing at Wilson James, this conversation dives deep into what it really means to lead yourself before leading others.
Anna shares her journey from recruitment to leadership coaching, revealing the development gap she discovered in safety professionals who excel technically but struggle with the non-technical aspects of leadership. Liam brings his military background and practical experience leading safety teams across a 5,000-person organization.
Key topics include:
The "sticky middle" challenge where technical experts transition to leadership roles
Why vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness, in safety leadership
The trust equation and how to build meaningful relationships at work
Practical exercises for developing self-awareness and emotional intelligence
How to recognize when you're "turning up" versus truly "showing up"
The importance of reflection and feedback in leadership development
Whether you're a safety professional stepping into leadership or an experienced leader looking to deepen your self-awareness, this episode offers practical tools and honest insights about the inner work required to lead effectively.