Empowering people to lead change
Reflections from a fireside chat at OHS 2026
At this year’s OHS Honours evening, I joined a fireside chat about courage, curiosity and leading through change. It reminded me of a colleague who returned from a conference and moved his desk out of the office and into the production area.
Several years ago, we attended an introduction to LEAN Manufacturing conference together. When we returned with more ideas than we knew how to put into practice, it was difficult to decide where to start.
To my surprise, the first thing he did when he returned was move his desk into the production area so he could be closer to the work and better support the team.
That decision has stayed with me over the years. We had attended the same conference and heard the same ideas, but he found an out-of-the-box way to show leadership.
Supporting those who step forward
People who take that first step can make an enormous difference to an organisation. They see something worth improving and are willing to put time and effort into it, often before anyone has worked out exactly how it will unfold.
I rely on my team to help figure out the way forward. When someone sees an opportunity and is willing to take it on, I want to understand what they need to get started. Do they have the time? The authority to act? Who else needs to be involved?
Encouraging an idea is only the beginning. Supporting someone through the work of putting it into practice is where the real work begins.
That responsibility is personal to me. In our family business, my father taught me that taking risks comes with an obligation to consider the people affected. Our decisions reach employees, their families, customers and the communities we serve.
2026 OHS Honours Gala - YouTube
Making room for questions
Supporting change also means being willing to learn alongside the people leading it.
At a recent Levitt-Safety business-planning session, our leaders discussed artificial intelligence. We shared what we were learning, where it might help and what we still needed to understand.
There were many unanswered questions as is often the case with emerging trends and technologies. Having the conversation gave us a chance to learn from one another and examine our assumptions.
It matters to me that people have a voice. That includes being able to ask a question or suggest something unfamiliar. I want people to bring those ideas forward, and I have to be willing to listen and learn, too.
Recognising the work behind progress
Safety professionals know how much effort it takes to change an established way of working. Identifying an improvement is one part of the job. Helping people understand it, adopt it and sustain it requires patience and support.
OHS Honours was an opportunity to recognise that work and the people doing it across Canada.
The conversation reminded me to look at how I support change in our own business: listening to my team, taking their ideas seriously and helping them get started.