Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Industry recognition was only a small part of a week of learning in Liverpool, says Steve Hutin, managing director at Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd.
You wouldn’t have expected anyone to be leaving Anfield with a trophy this football season. But there I was, striding down Gilman Street, outside the stadium, with drizzle forming droplets on my shiny Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) Excellence in Leadership award. The silverware — chain links protruding from its solid, square base — was presented to me at a gala dinner a few hours earlier, thanks in more ways than one to my loyal team.
I could say the bitterly cold Merseyside wind and lingering precipitation were the reasons for my bloodshot eyes and red cheeks. Truth is, there are other explanations: I was strong-armed into a couple of celebratory drinks, and I was a little embarrassed. It wasn’t just about clambering onto a stage in front of 450 guests from an industry I’ve been part of for three decades; it was more that I was out of my comfort zone under the bright lights. As I told the hordes of assembled media (I jest: I mean put in the press release we sent out), I do not covet adulation. And celebration is usually about what’s been. I prefer to look at what’s next.
The sense of surrealism was heightened by the fact that my son, Morgan, was part of our group that night; he was taking in his first LiftEx trade show, which LEEA hosted on the days either side of the awards at the nearby Exhibition Centre Liverpool. Forced into a rare moment of reflection, I remembered taking ownership of the company nearly 20 years ago, and the milestones we have reached along the way, largely met without any fanfare at all.
I felt humbled. And cold. Morgs was nonchalant. And unfazed. Fittingly, we’ve enjoyed success together in the past, albeit with our football club, Briton Ferry Llansawel AFC. Prior to that, one would have to go back to my school days to find a shield or cup with my name etched on it. The business hasn’t sought fame either; we’ve generally left the limelight for others and let our lifting and rigging gear — moreover, the people behind it — do the talking.
A leader in the making
I’m especially thankful to Leanne Whitehurst-Maiden, our national digitalisation manager, for bucking that trend on this occasion. I was humbled by her efforts in gathering supporting comments from senior team members to bolster an award entry that was evidently looked upon favourably by judges. It was proof once more that without a team, a leader is nowhere. As I said in the aforementioned media announcement, Excellence in Leadership is as much Excellence in Team as it is anything else.
Notably, in their opening remarks to the award category, a LEEA representative spoke about leadership being a lonely place. Leaders carry the ultimate responsibility, they added, making tough decisions, handling difficult conversations, and staying composed even after sleepless nights. There’s so much truth in those words, and I felt the darkness of that abyss only 12 hours or so earlier.
Taking advantage of having a number of senior managers in attendance at LiftEx, we held a meeting that covered the framework of the business moving forward, plans for 2026, etc. A far cry from the glitz and glamour of the awards night, there I was, with a full and frank apology to deliver. This is another inescapable aspect of leadership — you won’t always get it right. Further, when you see something that isn’t working, action must be taken. Pride doesn’t come into it.
As I said to my team, I have made some mistakes recently, chiefly related to management structure. In hindsight, I’d made too many decisions based on emotion. It was a lesson (leaders should never stop learning) that all such appointments must be earned on merit, with sentiment put to one side. I reminded the group of the importance of putting people in roles to which they are suited. There’s a famous adage about judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree, which you can Google at your convenience.
Sloths climb trees
Emotion is a dangerous thing in leadership, generally. Remember when David Beckham kicked Diego Simeone, the Argentine midfielder, in the 1998 World Cup? It goes without saying that had time paused, giving Beckham even a moment to think about his next action, he wouldn’t have lashed out, and wouldn’t have been shown a red card. England went on to lose in a penalty shoot-out.
In business, we’re rarely required to make a split-second decision, meaning there is always scope for one to be strategic and calculated. That doesn’t mean gut instinct and savvy aren’t important, but it pays to take a breath, especially when challenged or provoked.
Even with the right team in place, and the unflappability of a sloth, a leader still needs people to follow. It’s not a sign of weakness to look to other people for inspiration. It’s no secret that I see Mark James, operations director at Ainscough Crane Hire, as a mentor figure. I’m always sceptical of people in positions of authority that look down on others, both in terms of being condescending and in belief that they have somehow reached a peerless summit. At that point, the only way truly is down.
LEEA Awards attendees would have been astute to listen intently to the evening’s guest speaker, former rugby player Will Greenwood, one of England’s top try-scoring centres. He spoke well about the value of leadership and the importance of team spirit. Greenwood once said of his former captain, Martin Johnson, “He’s a cajoler. Definitely a cajoler.
“You get captains all over the place who rant and rave and go on about commitment, but when they get out on the park they hide behind the pack. That’s not Johno’s way — he really puts his body and soul on the line. Whatever he tells us to do, we know he wouldn’t suggest it unless he was prepared to do it himself.”
What does your team say about you?
Liverpool residency
LiftEx will return to the Liverpool Exhibition Centre next year — I’m hearing the two-day show will take place during the week of 23 November. Based on feedback I’ve received, and the enthusiasm of visitors to our exhibit, I think it’s a good decision. Thank you to everyone who participated in our nine-dart challenge, which was tracked throughout the event on a Top Gear-style leaderboard.
There’s a lot of pent-up demand as we approach the end of another year. The pipeline is swollen by delays and I’m looking forward to it moving at pace as 2026 gathers steam.
Steve Hutin
Managing Director
Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd
