Highlights and Learnings from EHS Congress London - December 3-4 2024

Last week, our team had the privilege of participating in the EHS Congress in London first edition, an inspiring event that brought together thought leaders, practitioners, and change-makers in the field of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS). Over two days, the discussions explored leadership, culture, engagement, and the evolving role of safety in organizations

Perrier Consulting delegation photographed with the founder and host of the EHS Congress in London. From left to right: Myriam Perrier, Andrew Sharman, Roxanne Perrier.

Event video recap: https://youtube.com/shorts/jfxJOIeTPdM?feature=share

Here are some key highlights and takeaways  from our delegation's collective insights:

DAY 2 : Leadership, Authenticity, and Culture

Presence and Authenticity in Leadership

• In a world that moves too fast, presence is key. Authentic leadership isn’t just about being seen; it’s about truly connecting.

• To be authentic means being yourself, not necessarily a people-pleaser. People will forget what you say or do, but they’ll always remember how you make them feel.

• Remote communication has its limits. Emails and screens can’t replace the genuine connections built through face-to-face interactions.

Driving Engagement Through Understanding

• Change is hard, and people often resist being told how to change. To foster engagement, step into their world—understand their perspectives, challenges, and motivations.

• Use the term "evolve" instead of "change" to convey gradual and meaningful progress.

• Engagement is not about PowerPoint slides but about meaningful tools and resources, like coaching cards, that resonate with teams.

Reframing Safety

• Safety is about more than the absence of incidents—it’s about the presence of proactive measures.

• Is the term "safety culture" still meaningful? Perhaps we should explore more inclusive and action-driven language.

• Align communication with your audience. Speak their language to ensure understanding and buy-in.

The Role of Leadership

• Leadership is the pivot point for any organizational effort. It’s not just about talking to others but about looking inward—how are you modeling the behaviors you wish to see?

• Role modeling is powerful, but only if leaders truly walk the talk.

• Curiosity and questioning are essential. Shift from a reactive mindset to one of proactive risk management—constantly asking, “How can we do better?”

Foundations of a Sustainable Culture

• Safety, belonging, and alignment are the cornerstones of a sustainable organizational culture. Are you listening to what your culture is telling you?

• Leadership actions must align with these foundational elements to create lasting impact.

DAY 2: Breaking Safety Plateaus and Well-Being

Breaking the Safety Plateau

• To move beyond the plateau, focus on fixing the work—not the worker.

• Identify critical tasks with serious potential risks and learn from everyday work.

• Ask the right questions to uncover hidden challenges and opportunities.

Well-Being as a Catalyst

• Well-being isn’t a side issue—it’s integral to safety and organizational culture. Improved well-being boosts recruitment, retention, and overall culture.

• Governance and accountability are essential. It doesn’t matter if HR or EHS owns well-being initiatives, as long as they are structured and impactful.

Practical Steps for Well-Being

• Focus on managers—their behaviors influence team well-being significantly. Equip them with the skills and tools to recognize and address issues early.

• Emphasize prevention over reaction and build a culture of support and awareness.

• Personal well-being involves four key factors: life satisfaction, a sense of purpose, happiness, and reduced anxiety.

The Power of the Mind

• Your brain is like a muscle; it needs time to recover after periods of intense focus. Be mindful of your "media diet" and how you use it—to escape or to grow.

• What you feed your mind determines what it focuses on. Impact comes not from knowledge alone, but from the actions you take.

Key Themes and Reflections

The recurring themes of the event were encapsulated in a series of "C" words that resonated throughout the sessions: Change, Challenges, Competence, Confidence, Curiosity, Culture, Caring, Compassion, Creation, Colleagues, Connection. 

These themes highlighted the multifaceted nature of safety and well-being and the importance of aligning actions with values.

True progress in EHS requires us to embrace curiosity, prioritize well-being, and focus on evolving—together. By being present, listening, and leading authentically, we can create safer, healthier, performant and more engaged workplaces.

What’s your next pivot?