#BEMOREBOWIE

Last weekend saw BBC6 Music spend an entire weekend celebrating the life and work of David Bowie. It marked five years since the icon passed away. As a fan of his work, admittedly somewhat late to the party, the weekend was a joy. Filled with amazing moments of genius and clarity. Bowie always had a very clear objective of what he wanted to achieve, the direction he was headed and an appreciation of the change occurring around him in the world.

What has this got to do with the OSH profession and OSH professionals? You might be asking. Well as I reflected on the legacy of a true great. I had a moment of clarity. As an OSH professional it’s not just what you do daily but what happens once your interactions are complete that matter. Would your organisation remember your presence and impact, five years after you left? Now I’m not suggesting they’ll be holding a weekend long memorial event dedicated to your safety work, but it raises an interesting question; legacy.

You’ll have read in numerous articles of late how the COVID-19 global pandemic has repositioned the OSH profession and the OSH professional. How we are at a time that presents a significant opportunity for the profession to cement itself as a cornerstone to sustainable business and an essential function at the heart of all successful organisations.

To make this a reality we as a profession must harness the power of collaboration, uniting behind the common goal of a safer world of work for everyone. I see many OSH professionals getting to caught up in the semantics of OSH programs and campaigns. My advice is don’t get caught up on the name of the campaign, focus on the detail of what it’s trying to achieve and how. Then if you find alignment, assess how you can contribute.

Beyond collaboration, there is a need for strong leadership within the OSH community right now. Collectively, we must demonstrate the leadership required for both today and the future. Our focus should be on UNITY and WE, not ME. I can’t think of a more pertinent quote than this one from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the pressing urgencies of the great cause of freedom…..a time like this demands great leaders.”

Now, this can be challenging, especially at a time when as individuals we’re busier than ever looking after our people and steering our organisations through these turbulent times. Personally, I have found it harder to give my time to others and the wider development of the profession, but not impossible. I’m emboldened by others I hold in high esteem, that I know are facing the same challenges and are visible, giving their time to others and furthering causes within the OSH profession. I take inspiration from my peers in this regard and comfort that collectively we are moving in the right direction.

Sometimes it can be hard to know when to act, when to seize the day. I’m just about to finish Seneca’s letters. He’s been my pre sleep companion for a while now. I find the learning from his letters to be constant and valuable. This on making the most of each day, had me thinking about how I face each morning:

“Every day as it comes should be welcomed and reduced forthwith into our own possession as if it were the finest day imaginable. What flies past has to be seized.”

With this in mind, as I read a recent daily newsletter from another constant mentor; Coach George Raveling, I found this list of behaviours and actions a fitting guide to follow for grounding myself for the right way to approach each day:

Now Is The Time:

• To listen to learn.
• To stop and think.
• To lead and follow.
• To trust and respect.
• To be humble and hungry.
• To be kind and thoughtful.
• To be responsible and accountable.
• To be uncommon and part of the solution.

His list made me think about what we can all do within our profession, to enhance the standing of the OSH profession and professional:

• Speak Up: Inform the world of the work we are doing and in defence of the OSH profession when it is unfairly criticised.  
• Take risks: In the ambition of our work, embracing new technologies and trying new approaches.
• Ask questions: Of ourselves, of each other and of the profession.
• Persevere: With our mission. Overcoming obstacles as they present themselves.
• Welcome challenge: It presents an opportunity to learn, grow and improve.
• Build on other people’s ideas: Utilising the knowledge and experience of others inside and outside of the profession, provides the single greatest opportunity to enhance your own abilities.  
• Take criticism constructively: Remove yourself from the criticism. Focus on the opportunity to improve.
• Listen with an openness to change: I have been fortunate to be involved in some intimate OSH professional discussion forums and groups recently. From each one I have learnt and taken something away to improve my own undertakings.