In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and guest Helen Rawlinson tackle a question that hits close to home for many safety professionals:

“Dear Aunty Treacle, I feel like a filing cabinet. I’m full of paperwork and have no room for the human interactions I believe are critical for keeping people from harm and understanding what’s really happening in my workplace. So quite simply, is all this paperwork actually keeping people safe?”

Helen brings honesty and humour to a lively conversation about bureaucracy, systems and red tape, exploring whether endless forms and checklists actually make work safer, or simply make us feel safe.

Together, they unpack how to cut through the noise, challenge outdated practices, and focus on what truly matters: meaningful conversations and human connection. 

Key Topics Covered:

• The “filing cabinet” feeling – bureaucracy overload and burnout
• The 80/20 fallacy – most systems go far beyond what’s legally needed
• The illusion of accountability – paperwork vs. purpose
• How to start challenging and simplifying safely
• Shifting from expert to conduit – facilitating rather than controlling
• Practical ways to bring curiosity and critical thinking into your work
• When to stop doing things that don’t add value
• Replacing compliance comfort with real conversations

Resources & References:

• Paper Safe by Greg Smith – a must-read for safety professionals
• Work as Imagined vs. Work as Done – Steve Shorrock
• Deloitte research on compliance vs. impact
• Normal Work Reviews – learning by doing, not auditing
• Hierarchy of Control – remembering PPE sits at the bottom

We’d Love Your Feedback!

Feeling buried in bureaucracy or fighting the same battle? Tell us your story at [email protected] or tag us on socials.

Next Episode Teaser: They Won’t Adopt My Idea - how to influence change when the resistance is coming from the top.

Welcome back to Aunty Treacle after the summer break!

This episode tackles a universal challenge: feeling constantly overwhelmed by work coming at you at pace, feeling reactive rather than proactive, and struggling to focus on what truly matters and makes an impact.

The Listener Question

"Dear Aunty Treacle, I feel constantly overwhelmed as there is so much work coming at me at pace. As a result, I feel like I am constantly reacting and I don't feel like I am getting to the stuff that actually matters, makes a difference and makes an impact. Can you please help me get some control back and feel effective in my work?"

Key Insights & Strategies

Take a Breath and Step Back

The Foundation: While feeling overwhelmed is normal, we must question how long we allow this to be "normal." The first step is recognizing when daily churn becomes ever-encroaching.
The Balcony vs. Dance Floor Approach (Andrew Barrett's insight):

• Remove yourself from the situation to gain perspective
• Like a chess grandmaster observing the board rather than just making the next move
• Brief pauses for reflection (alone or with colleagues) can reset clarity and priorities
• Sometimes doing something isn't the solution—it can reinforce the overwhelm cycle

Personal Foundations First
Before tackling organizational issues, address your individual resilience:

• Maintain energy-giving activities: Don't stop going to the gym, reading, or other activities that help you perform
• "An empty vessel serves no one": Prioritize self-care to have the resilience for difficult conversations
• Energy management: Protect your energy, especially before busy seasons
• Sleep, exercise, nutrition: These become critical during high-demand periods

The Art of Saying No

Hell Yes or Hell No Framework (Derek Shivers):

• Instead of learning to say no, define what makes something a "yes"
• When you know your "yes" criteria, saying no becomes easier and less awkward
• Powerful reframe: "If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?"

Subtraction over Addition:

• Focus on what to stop or pause, not just what to start
• Test approach: Don't do something for a month—if nobody notices, it's not a priority
• Pausing is less confrontational than stopping

Prioritization Strategies

The Eisenhower Matrix & Beyond:

• Map tasks on urgent vs. important axes
• Focus on high health and safety impact, low effort activities where possible
• Tools mentioned: PARA method, Eisenhower Matrix, Dichotomy of Control

Strategic Questioning:

• What's the value? Is it actually making work safer or just making us feel better?
• What's the intended output and impact?
• If it doesn't fit within your organizational strategy, question why you're doing it

Don't Chase Every Email:

• Some things resolve themselves if left alone
• Create space between stimulus and response
• Use rules to manage inbox (filter "for info" emails into folders)

Managing Perfectionism

• "Perfect is the enemy of good": Don't let perfection get in the way of better
• "Done is better than perfect": Sometimes action and progress matter more than a perfect finished product
• Experiment, fail fast, iterate, learn, evolve
• Ask: "Is it good enough?" Then get it out and test it

Time and Energy Management

Time Blocking Strategies:

• Block thinking time in your calendar (others just see "meetings")
• Be proactive about organizational cadences (monthly/quarterly reporting)
• Block out predictable busy periods in advance
• Even if you don't finish everything, you make progress

Analyze Your Time Usage:

• Study how you actually spend time—it's your rarest resource
• Look back at tasks and assess how they help achieve long-term goals
• Reflect daily: How did I use my time? How did this compare to my plan?
• Fact vs. Story: Video camera facts vs. stories we tell ourselves

Team and Organizational Strategies

Know Your Team's Strengths:

• Map activities to people's strengths and preferences
• Don't carry people or make up for deficiencies elsewhere
• Be honest about whether you're being given more work because you're effective

Communication is Key:

• "You can't fix a secret": If nobody knows you're overwhelmed, nothing will change
• Have honest conversations with managers about capacity and priorities
• Ask for help with reframing priorities
• Sample approach: "I need to prioritize X, Y, Z, so I'm suggesting changing timescales for other deliverables"

Sprint vs. Marathon Approach:

• Sometimes work like a lion—put intense energy where it's really needed
• Know when you can take your foot off the gas
• Short bursts of focus on specific areas can create momentum

Reflection and Celebration

• Stop and celebrate wins: Look back over 6 months and acknowledge achievements
• Safety professionals are humble—don't be afraid to wave your flag
• Communicate successes to stakeholders
• Counter the hamster wheel: We often don't pause to see how much we've actually accomplished

Community Insights Summary

Jason Catterson - Frameworks & Reset Moments:

• Use practical tools: PARA method, Eisenhower Matrix, Dichotomy of Control
• Don't chase every email—sometimes things resolve themselves
• Step away to reset; even a few minutes of breathing space helps

Chris Hewitt - Communication & Time Blocking:

• Talk to your manager—others can help share the load
• Block focused time in your diary
• Use inbox rules to manage information flow

Peter Jenkins - Getting Extra Support:

• Sometimes overwhelm links to deeper factors (ADHD, mental health)
• Therapy, coaching, or diagnosis can unlock new management strategies
• We're all human and sometimes need more than productivity hacks

Andrew Barrett - The Balcony vs Dance Floor:

• Gain perspective by stepping away from the immediate situation
• Brief pauses for reflection can reset priorities and clarity

The Prescription: What to Do When Overwhelmed

1. Take a breath and step back - Get off the hamster wheel and onto the chess board
2. Analyze your relationship with time - Study how you're actually spending your time
3. Challenge the stories you tell yourself - What might you need to change to take control back?
4. Learn to say no - You might have to drop some balls, but prioritize what's truly important
5. Have the conversation - Talk to your manager, peer, coach, or mentor about your situation
6. Take control of the controllables - Your energy, priorities, and responses are within your control

Key Takeaway

"Taking time to stop and think isn't a luxury—it's mission critical." If you're passionate about what you do and want to get people home safe (or excel in any role), you must be intentional about how you use your time and energy.

Next Episode Preview

Coming up: "I Feel Like a Filing Cabinet" - exploring whether paperwork is really keeping people safe or just keeping us busy, featuring Helen Rawlinson and her insights on the actual work of safety versus administrative burden.

Remember: Feeling overwhelmed gradually and then suddenly is normal, but don't let it become your permanent normal. Be intentional, use these tools to take control, and fundamentally—talk to somebody about what you're experiencing and what you'd like it to be instead.

From Peer to Leader: Turning Thinking into Action

In this follow-up to Episode 6, Anna, Stuart, and guest Oli Sanandres return to help a listener take their first steps into people leadership. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there as it lays the essential mindset groundwork. In Part 2, we move from thinking like a leader to acting like one. The listener asks:
 
“Dear Aunty Treacle, I’ve recently accepted a promotion at work that will see me move from individual contributor to line manager. This is my first step into people management, and I’m determined for it to be successful. How do I step out of my peer group and into this leadership position without putting noses out of joint, losing friendships, and while still delivering for the organisation and the employees? Wisdom from those who’ve done this before would be appreciated.” Together, the team dive into the tools, habits, and conversations that make this transition work in real life.

Key Topics Covered

• Starting with connection and recontracting relationships
• Setting expectations clearly and early
• Giving and receiving feedback with care and clarity
• Creating psychologically safe spaces for team input
• Balancing kindness with accountability
• Using routines and rituals that work for you
• Managing up, down and across the system
• Leading without being the hero or having all the answers
• Holding reflection time to stay grounded and grow
• Building a leadership identity that stays true to you

  Practical Tools & Tips

• Time to Think (TTT) – schedule regular time to pause and plan
• T-Up Play – Oli’s team expectations framework
• Recontracting – reset team dynamics with intention
• Yes, If – a reframing tool to support possibility and safety
• Reflection Rituals – stack feedback and learning with something enjoyable
• Coaching Mindset – support others to solve problems, don’t rescue them

  Reflection Prompts

• What’s one thing I can let go of to lead better?
• Am I empowering or heroing?
• How am I showing up for my team and for myself?

  Resources Mentioned

• Episode 6 – The Sticky Middle: Part 1
• Episode 4 – Setting Up for Success with Gareth Evans
• How to Lead with Purpose by Liam Black
• Leadership principles and journaling practices

  We’d Love Your Feedback

Just stepped into leadership? Got a sticky situation of your own?

Email us at [email protected] or tag us on socials.   Next Episode: Time, Energy & the Myth of ‘Enough’

We tackle the leadership tension of limited time, endless demands and making space for what really matters.

The Sticky Middle – Part 1

From Peer to Leader: Shifting Your Thinking  

In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and special guest Oli Sanandres respond to a classic sticky career moment from a listener taking their first steps into people leadership:  

“Dear Aunty Treacle, I’ve recently accepted a promotion at work that will see me move from individual contributor to line manager. This is my first step into people management, and I’m determined for it to be successful. How do I step out of my peer group and into this leadership position—without putting noses out of joint, losing friendships, and while still delivering for the organisation and the employees? Wisdom from those who’ve done this before would be appreciated.”  

Oli brings thoughtful insights from a varied career across local government, aviation, Amazon, and the military, where he went from rifleman to officer. Together, the team explore what it really takes to think like a leader before you start acting like one.  

Spoiler: This isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about stepping into a new mental model, letting go of old success markers, and learning how to lead without losing yourself.  

Key Topics Covered:
• Why leadership is about thinking, not just doing
• The mindset shift from personal delivery to enabling others
• How to stay authentic (and humble) as you move from peer to leader
• Letting go of your “hero cape” and redefining what success looks like
• The importance of time to think and why it’s not a luxury
• The awkward art of managing former peers (without becoming a stranger)
• What the military taught Oli about influence, optics and staying grounded
• Leadership as a system: managing up, down, and across
• Paying it forward and using your role to grow others
• Sitting in discomfort and trusting others to solve problems their way  

Resources to Explore:
• Episode 2 – Am I Enough? – for anyone struggling with imposter feelings
• Leadership Development Tip: Audit how you spend your time - are you thinking or just doing?
• Reframing Question: What do I need to let go of to lead well?
• Coaching Prompt: What kind of leader do I want to be and why?  

We’d Love Your Feedback!
Stepping into leadership? Navigating your own sticky middle?
Email us at [email protected] or tag us on socials.

We’d love to hear what resonated and what you’re still wrestling with.  

Next Episode: The Sticky Middle – Part 2
We’ve done the mindset shift - next, we move into action. In Episode 7, we bring Oli back to explore how to lead with clarity, care, and confidence.
 
How do you set expectations, have tough conversations, and take people with you?

Join us as we turn the thinking into doing.  

🎙️ Aunty Treacle - Episode 5: Is Safety Still for Me?

In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and guest Steph Camm respond to a deeply relatable listener challenge from someone feeling disillusioned with their career in safety:

“Dear Aunty Treacle, I’m six years into my safety career and starting to wonder if it’s for me. I got into this work because I care about people and want to make a difference but all anyone seems to care about is compliance. I’m losing hope that I’ll ever find a role where I can do things differently. Is there a future for me in safety?”

Steph brings honesty, warmth, and wisdom as she shares her own journey through different sectors including hotels, student accommodation, facilities, and engineering and reflects on the moments she questioned her own path. Together, the team explore what it really means to be at a career crossroads, and how to navigate through uncertainty with clarity, courage, and care. Spoiler: It’s not just about safety, it’s about rediscovering purpose, getting unstuck, and giving yourself permission to pivot.  

Key Topics Covered:

• The compliance-care tension: how to hold both without losing your soul
• Reframing audits, checklists and inspections as opportunities for curiosity
• Spotting green flags in interviews and why language matters
• Navigating gut instinct, red flags, and the emotional signals we ignore
• Exploring the “career equation” aligning values, strengths, impact and environment
• When to stay, when to go, and how to make bold but grounded moves
• Career as a relationship: why your job should meet your needs too
• Coaching, reflection, and finding clarity without waiting for permission
• Courage as a core leadership skill—especially when saying “this isn’t right for me”

 Resources to Explore:

• The Career Equation – The Career Equation®
• Risk Savvy by Gerd Gigerenzer – on gut instinct and smart decision-making
• Four Qualities of a Great Career (reverse your way in!):
  1. I’m around fascinating people
  2. I make good money
  3. I’m good at it
  4. I enjoy it

• Reframing tip: Audit your current job for learning and experimentation, not just output
• Interview reflection question: “How does this organisation align with who I am and what I value?”

We’d Love Your Feedback!

Have you hit a career crossroads? Are you feeling stuck or second-guessing your profession?
Drop us a line at [email protected] or tag us on socials. Your questions help others get unstuck too.

Next Episode: 🌟 The Sticky Middle – Part 1 & 2
We’re doubling up for the next release as we dig into one of the most challenging transitions in any career: moving from individual contributor to people leader.
What changes, what stays the same and how do you lead others without losing yourself? 

See you soon, Treacle fans. And yes, we still have Blazing Squad stuck in our heads too.

In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and guest Gareth Evans tackle a challenge that will resonate with anyone stepping into a big new role, especially those leading change:

“Dear Aunty Treacle, I’ve recently accepted a Health and Safety Director role in a new company, and I’m a mix of excited and terrified. The mission is to move health and safety from compliance to care. Any advice on what I should be focusing on to make a real difference?”

Gareth shares lessons from his own experience leading in global, fast-moving organisations, offering insight into what really matters in those first few months. Spoiler: it’s less about action and more about connection, curiosity, and courage.

Together, they explore how to lead with intention, manage the pressure to perform, and move from compliance to care in a way that’s meaningful and sustainable.  

Key Topics Covered:

• Why your first priority isn’t action, it’s listening
• “Connect before you direct”- how relationships build results
• The bathtub analogy - building stock with your allies before making withdrawals
• Mapping your stakeholders: power, influence, and the unexpected allies
• The myth of the perfect plan - why failure is part of learning
• Adding less, subtracting more - cutting the clutter to focus your energy
• Becoming the conductor - making the shift from doer to strategic leader
• Trust, adaptation, and building a team that can run without you
• Reconnecting with your why - care and compassion at the heart of leadership

  🔗 Resources to Explore:

• Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows – essential reading on complexity and change
• The “Nando’s Scale” – a relatable model to gauge and warm up stakeholder relationships
• Stakeholder mapping frameworks to identify influence beyond job titles
• 4D Site Engagement Tool – Done, Different, Difficult, Dangerous
• Subtraction as a strategy – why doing less can achieve more
• Reflection questions for new leaders:
  • What am I assuming?
  • Who do I need to build trust with?
  • What does this business really need from me right now?

  💬 We'd Love Your Feedback!

Are you in a new role or planning a big step? What resonated with you from this episode?
Share your stories, reflections, or future questions at [email protected] or tag us on socials. We’d love to hear how you're getting unstuck.  

Next Episode Teaser:
🌟 Is Safety Still For Me?

Join us and guest Steph Camm as we explore what it means to face a career crossroad. Whether you're working in health and safety or questioning your broader professional path, this is a compassionate, clear-eyed look at how to move forward when purpose feels out of reach.

In this episode, Anna and Stuart are joined by special guest Ruth Denyer to unpack a listener’s powerful question:
 
"Dear Aunty Treacle, over the last 12 months I have been working on a project to bring efficiency to the way we do safety on my site. In an ideal world, I would now see this rolled out over all our projects, but I am struggling with getting the balance right between promoting it as my idea and not wanting to come across as arrogant or like I’m craving recognition. Ultimately, I think this work could make a difference, so I want to be successful – but as a woman in a male-dominated environment, I want to make sure I don’t undersell myself. Can you give me some advice please?" Together, they get into the messy middle of visibility and humility, and why promoting your work doesn’t have to mean promoting yourself in a way that feels uncomfortable. Expect reflections on confidence, ego, gender dynamics, and how to let your work speak for you, without letting it get lost. There’s also practical advice on handling trust dynamics in organisations, building allyship, and speaking about team efforts with honesty and clarity.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why the ick around self-promotion is real and common
• The difference between confidence and ego
• How to speak about your work with integrity
• Building visibility without losing humility
• The power of team language: using “we” over “I”
• Socialising your ideas through others
• How gender and environment can shape how we show up
• Creating a “success folder” to boost self-belief
• Why trust and intent are the foundations of influence

This episode also features crowdsourced advice from our community, because when it comes to sticky situations like this, there’s never just one right answer.

Special guest: Ruth Denyer – Safety and risk leader in the creative industries, with a long track record of speaking up, sharing insight, and helping others lead with purpose and perspective.

Want to get involved?

Got a sticky situation you'd love us to unpack?

Drop us a note at [email protected] – you might hear it featured in a future episode.

Next Episode Teaser:

Setting Up for Success – with Gareth Evans. What are the small things you can do early on to build confidence, credibility and momentum in a new role or challenge? 

Aunty Treacle is proudly supported by HSE Global Series – a platform committed to advancing global conversations in health, safety and environment. Learn more at HSEGlobalSeries.com

🎙️ Aunty Treacle - Episode 2: Am I Enough? Tackling Imposter Syndrome

In this heartfelt episode, Anna, Stuart, and guest David Filshie take on a listener’s powerful question:
 
"Even though I’ve been working in my profession for a while, I’m often crippled by imposter syndrome. How do I move forward?"

Together they explore what imposter syndrome really is, why it's so common, and how it can actually signal that you care deeply about your work. They share practical tools to reflect, reframe, and take action, even when self-doubt creeps in. This conversation offers a supportive, practical path for anyone wrestling with the question: Am I enough? (Spoiler: You are.) Key Topics Covered:

• What imposter syndrome really is and what it isn’t
• Why feelings of "not enough" often arise when we’re visible, different, or doing something new
• The myth of being "ready" and why confidence follows action
• The power of reflection, feedback, and building self-awareness
• How to find your people and create a supportive tribe
• Strategies for navigating discomfort and reframing failure
• How to bring your authentic self into every space, from shop floor to boardroom

  🔗 Resources and Mentions:

• Emma Reed Turrell - Best Friend Therapy podcast – Episodes on Imposters Syndrome and Transactional Analysis
• Jessamy Hibbard - The Imposter Cure book
• Simple self-reflection frameworks ("What went well, what didn’t, what next?")
• Building confidence through feedback and small wins

  💬 We'd Love Your Feedback!

Share what resonated, what you'd like more of, and how we can keep helping people get unstuck.
Got a story to share or a question for a future episode? Drop us a line at [email protected]!

Next Episode Teaser:

🌟 Credit Without Arrogance — how to own your achievements without losing your humility.

🎙️ Aunty Treacle — Episode 1: How Do I Get Heard? (Especially As an Introvert)

Welcome to the first episode of Aunty Treacle!

In this debut episode, Anna, Stuart, and special guest Zoe Hayes dive into an important listener question:

"As an introvert, I often feel overlooked and undervalued. How can I get my voice heard?" They explore the hidden strengths of introverts, how to prepare and position yourself in meetings, and why confidence is built through action, not before it. You’ll hear practical advice on speaking up, handling interruptions, reframing your self-image, and why sometimes a quiet, powerful voice is exactly what the room needs. Whether you're introverted yourself, work alongside quieter colleagues, or want to build inclusive conversations, this episode offers a smorgasbord of strategies to help you (or others) thrive. Key Topics Covered:

• The hidden superpowers of introverts
• Preparation, presence, and how to "engineer" your voice into the room
• The value (and limits) of labels like "introvert" and "extrovert"
• How to handle being spoken over (in the moment and afterward)
• Building influence through "warm-ups" and side conversations
• Why small acts of bravery build long-term confidence
• The power of observation and great questions
• Practical tips on positioning yourself physically and digitally

  💬 Want to Get Involved?

Got a sticky situation you need help with? Email us at [email protected] - we’d love to feature your question in a future episode! Next Episode Teaser:

🌟 Am I Enough? - how to tackle imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and find your confidence.

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