The Invisible Cost of Silence: Leadership's Role in Psychological Safety
Today on Leap Forward, we welcome Stephen Whitton, founder of [M]enable, who is transforming the conversation around men's mental health and workplace wellbeing. Stephen discusses the vital importance of creating psychologically safe and inclusive workplaces, sharing the personal journey that inspired his advocacy. He offers deep insights into dismantling traditional male stereotypes and fostering vulnerable, empathetic leadership. This is a powerful conversation about owning your story and driving real change. Let's hear how Stephen is leading the charge.
00:00
The episode's introduction
05:29
Stephen describes his personal turning point: a breakdown on a railway platform that drove him to seek help and ultimately create the movement.
11:03
Stephen reveals that when he reached out, industry CEOs confessed to having struggles like imposter syndrome, validating the widespread need for [M]enable.
16:03
The importance of vulnerability and empathy in leadership, arguing that it helps leaders see the human being beyond performance metrics.
21:05
Stephen shares his personal coping strategy: prioritizing activities that bring him joy, including hosting events and doing drag performances.
28:59
Discussing a core challenge: men in male-dominated departments, like "Barry from parts," are often unlikely to approach a traditional mental health first aider for support.
33:04
The call for honest conversations in the workplace, and the need to shift employee 1-to-1s away from focusing only on numbers and stats.
35:06
Stephen describes the success of his masterclass by beginning with a simple, vulnerable question: "What's going on for you today?".
41:15
Looking to the future: the goal of embedding Mental Wealth Champions to create psychological safety and help plug the massive skills gap in the automotive industry.
47:58
The final reflection, linking his journey to a glitzy Eurovision song, symbolizing his story of coming out in 2020 and embracing what brings him joy.
Address
UK
Cambridge House, Henry St.
Bath BA1 1BT, United Kingdom
USA
2950 Buskirk Ave, Suite 300
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Korea (South)
Kyobo Building, 15th Floor, 1 Jongno,
Seoul 03154, Korea
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