Name: Peter Simpson

Title: Global Head of Safety, Security & Sustainability

Organisation: Standard Chartered

A global executive with over 25 years of leadership in the areas of risk management, safety, health, wellbeing, security, sustainability/ESG, crisis management, governance, and quality assurance. He has international experience in airlines, defence, regulators, industry bodies, and the banking & finance sector. Peter is passionate about leading organisations through customer-focused change and simplification, and about coaching and mentoring the next generation of diverse leaders. A tragic academic who cannot stop learning, and making the complex as simple as possible, but no simpler.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

We’ve gone through the interviews and asked the best of the best to come back and answer 7 MORE Questions on Leadership.

I hope Peter's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. As a leader, how do you build trust with employees, customers and other stakeholders?

Trust is built by being transparent and vulnerable.

2. What do 'VISION' and 'MISSION' mean to you? And what does it actually look like to use them in real-world business?

The vision is your plan for the future - ask yourself why we exist and what it looks like. (could be your company, your department, your team, or even yourself). The mission is how you achieve that vision in the now. But we should not get too caught up in the difference between purpose, vision, mission, and strategy - just know why you exist, where you're going, and how you'll get there.

3. How can a leader empower the people they're leading?

Step back and allow them to plot their course and make decisions. Related to the above, if the team is clear on the vision and the mission, then allow them space to fill in the rest. Give them the map and compass, and allow them to reach the destination in the way that is efficient and effective way for them.

4. Who are some of the coaches or mentors in your life who have had a positive influence on your leadership? Can you please tell a meaningful story about one of them?

I had one leader who constantly played the team off against each other, being very selective on the info they told each person, which led to a team devoid of psychological safety. It was a negative experience which had a positive influence on my, as it taught me the value of being open and transparent with my team, and sharing information with them all.

Following on from that, I had a peer who role-modelled how to include all the team in a discussion, ensuring all the voices and ideas were heard, which in turn gave me some great examples of how to build psychological safety in my own team

5. Leadership is often more about what you DON'T do. How do you maintain focus in your role?

While I fully appreciate and understand how true this statement is, I am also aware that it's something I struggle with, and have to keep reminding myself about it. And often it's my boss/coach/mentor who reminds me. A key for me is doing the thing that only I can do (and that might be related to rank, status, influence, or skillset) - that's the value I bring to the situation.

6. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Everyone plans differently. How do you plan for the week, month and years ahead in your role?

I do a lot of my 'next week' planning over the weekend, blocking my diary for commuting (on days I plan to be in the office), focus tasks, meeting/committee prep, etc. And that might include milestones for projects and tasks due in the next month or quarter. But it all needs to go in my diary, else it won't get done.

7. What advice would you give to a young leader who is struggling to delegate effectively?

The same advice I give to myself as an older leader who still struggles to delegate effectively! Focus on the tasks only you can do, and allow others to do the rest. Allow them to make mistakes and get things wrong, and help them to recover from that. It will empower your team and help them to develop and grow