Humanising Leadership in Risk, Shifting the Focus from Objects to Persons
We are delighted in the Social Psychology of Risk (SPoR) to launch the 15th book in the series on risk. This is the second book written by Brian Darlington with the first ‘It Works, A New Approach to Risk and Safety’ being snapped up across the risk and safety industry. What a wonderful case study of what SPoR can do to an organization when thy move away from zero so that safety can improve (https://safetyrisk.net/moving-away-from-zero-so-that-safety-improves/ ).
This second book by Brian is entitled ‘Humanising Leadership, Shifting the Focus from Objects to Persons’ and is available for purchase here: https://www.humandymensions.com/product/humanising-leadership-in-risk-shifting-focus-from-objects-to-persons/
The book is available to purchase immediately in Europe (19.50 Euro) and (Australia $29.95) plus postage and handling.
Don’t forget that many of the previous books are free to download here: https://www.humandymensions.com/shop/
About the Book
Leadership is most associated with vision and the attraction of vision. Vision is about much more than seeing or perception, it is about seeing beyond the blatantly obvious to what is hidden in plain sight. When we think of visionaries, we think of risk takers who achieved great things because they did not fear risk.
The core message of the global safety industry is about the fear of risk embodied in the ideology of “Zero”. Here is an industry fixated on a number that defines its purpose – counting and controlling objects. There is no vision or leadership in zero ideology.
Into this void of leadership in risk and safety steps Brian Darlington, himself a visionary in risk. Brian’s own story of letting go of traditional safety and venturing forward to a humanizing approach to risk is a story in risk itself. This story is told in the book: ‘It Works, A New Approach to Risk and Safety’. When you focus on the fear of risk there is so much to lose. When you focus on the reason for risk, there is so much to gain.
This book ‘Humanising Leadership’ tackles the tough questions that an industry fixated on compliance never asks. For example: If humans are fallible, systems are imperfect and persons are vulnerable, how can an ideology of perfection help anyone? If understanding persons is the key to relational knowing, how can a fixation on objects humanize risk? What should leadership in risk look like? Where is the inspiration, imagination and vision in policing compliance? These and similar questions are the focus of this book.
Reading this book will be a challenge for anyone stuck in traditional safety and zero. It will be uncomfortable reading that is neither safe nor secure. Yet, it is an inspirational book that encourages vision in leadership in risk, so that the focus in risk shifts from objects to persons. This is the book risk and safety needs and perhaps a read that might transform the way you practice tackling risk.
Rob Long says
I have read his book at last 3 times and think it is so essential to people who want to be leaders in risk and safety. Many people and consultants talk about leadership in safety but few do it, and few with the depth of experience and expertise as Brian Darlington.
Congratulations Brian on a much needed book in an industry that talks so much but practices so little humanising it what it does.
Aneta Parker says
This is one of the best books about leadership available on the market today… for all the leaders of now and the ones of the future…