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Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher is the Chief Executive of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Vanessa shares insights into IOSH's mission to promote global occupational safety and health standards, emphasizing the importance of proportionate risk management.

But don’t let the topic of health and safety put you off. Prepare to be engaged and inspired as you listen to Vanessa share her experience of leading an organisation that many might consider uninteresting. Vanessa clearly isn’t!

Vanessa is a fantastic leader who shares her leadership approach, highlighting the balance between being directive and consultative, and the need for clarity and adaptability.

Vanessa is clear who she is as a leader and continually looking to improve her skills and leadership as a CEO. Her honesty is refreshing and a reminder that self-awareness is not something we do once and expect to have it covered!

Her value of feedback and maintaining authenticity in leadership is a key part of her approach and I love how honest she is about the pressures of her role as a CEO.

What pressures are you facing and what could you do differently?

Topics covered:

· Purpose and mission of IOSH (00:00:51)

· Negative perception and misconceptions of health and safety (00:03:08)

· Challenges and uncertainty as a CEO (00:05:26)

· Adapting the strategy to external changes (00:08:10)

· Clarity of vision and purpose (00:10:37)

· Developing a collaborative strategy (00:16:29)

· Balancing consultative and directive approaches (00:21:18)

· Managing workload and priorities (00:23:38)

· The importance of self-awareness (00:26:45)

· Talent development and coaching (00:28:06)

· Advice for new CEOs (00:29:40) , seeking feedback, and articulating a leadership philosophy.

Other free resources:

· Buy the book Leading through uncertainty

· Take the Team Performance Scorecard and discover the 12 hidden dynamics of your team’s performance

· Sign up to our Leadership Hints and Tips

· Connect with Jude Jennison on Linked In

www.leadersbynature.com