Ask the Board: What are some of the key lessons you've learned from being a leader?
Kym Fawcett
January 20, 2016
I started out as a new leader while in my mid-20’s. I was full of vim and vigour, and ready to change the world. Over the next 15+ years, I held a number of leadership type roles ranging from people to business to projects. Consequently, I have experienced many learnings about leadership during that time, some that I wish I would have known when I was starting out as a new leader. A few examples include:
- “Don’t make decisions hastily”. As a young leader, there is often significant self-inflicted pressure to perform. This can result in not taking the time needed to fully understand an issue or opportunity or to gather adequate data. Hence, they may not choose the best decision option available. The greatest leaders that I have known have a common trait and that is they take time to truly explore it.
- Ask lots of questions. Become an expert listener. Young leaders often think that they need to have all of the answers, all of the time. Actually, the opposite of this is true. Great leaders excel at asking really good questions. These leaders also have excellent listening skills. Further, they use these skills to engage and empower their people and teams. The results are almost always measurable because people feel valued which leads to enhanced employee engagement; which, in turn increases creativity that turns into innovation. (I believe that these are two of the most important skills that leaders should continually strive to improve)
- Always have your team’s back! If something goes wrong, and it will from time to time, take personal responsibility and never, ever, throw your team or people under the bus. Thankfully, I never did this, but I saw other leaders who did. Not only did this erode the trust and respect of their team, but it also often damaged the reputation of the leader from his/her colleagues. In a nutshell, take personal responsibility when things go wrong, and always give the credit to the team when things go right!
- Surround yourself with great people. When I was young, I used to think that it was the leader that made a team great. Fortunately, I learned early that I was wrong on this assumption. It is the team that a leader surrounds themselves with that makes a great team.
Looking back, the one thing that has never change has been my passion; it hasn’t subsided and I don’t expect that it ever will.
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About the Author
Kym Fawcett
ATCO Pipelines & Liquids Global Business Unit
Kymberly (Kym) Fawcett joined ATCO in 2019 as the Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) for the company’s Pipelines & Liquids Global Business Unit. In 2020, her role expanded to Director of HSEQ for Canadian Utilities and Director Health and Safety for ATCO’s Corporate & Common Groups. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of strategic initiatives to drive organizational effectiveness, risk mitigation and to further ATCO’s strong internal safety culture.
Over the course of her 30-year career, Ms. Fawcett has contributed predominantly to the oil and gas sector in Western Canada and the U.S., positioning several companies to build industry-leading environmental, health, safety and sustainability organizational systems and cultures. Her expertise also includes policy development, regulatory permitting, auditing, corporate social responsibility and Indigenous engagement.
Ms. Fawcett studied Environmental Sciences at the University of Central Oklahoma and Okanagan College. She is certified in Global Reporting Initiative international standards and is designated as an ISO 14000 and 9000 Lead Auditor in Environment and Quality Management Systems. Ms. Fawcett is a strong supporter of several non-profit organizations, having volunteered her time and industry experience for over 20 years. She is the current President of the Board at The Educational Partnership Foundation, a board member with the National Association for Environmental Management in the U.S., and past-President of the Canadian Heavy Oil Association. Ms. Fawcett also represents ATCO as an Executive Board Member with Utilities Safety Partners, previously known as Alberta One-Call Corporation.
Ms. Fawcett lives in Springbank, Alberta, with her husband, Glenn. She has four children, is an avid outdoor enthusiast, a passionate chef and enjoys travelling the globe.