Frequently asked questions.

Browse our library of short videos, explaining key concepts of the work that we do for public sector organisations.

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  • Is a high IQ a strong predictor of leadership capability?

    A few decades ago, there was a long-held assumption in literature that you would go a long way in your leadership capability if you were smart and had a high IQ. Looking back at that literature today, things have changed. While a high IQ may be necessary, it's not sufficient, and the strongest predictor of leadership capability is, in fact, having a growth mindset. Listen in as Dr Rachel Bacon, Deputy Commissioner of Integrity, Reform, and Enabling Services at the Australian Public Service Commission, explains this further in this frequently asked question.

  • What does it mean to have a growth mindset?

    After much examination and discussion, Dr Rachel Bacon, Deputy Commissioner of Integrity, Reform, and Enabling Services at the Australian Public Service Commission, explains how a growth mindset comes down to elements of learning agility. Perhaps an even simpler answer is being open and willing to learn and try new things. Listen in as she explains this further in this frequently asked question.

  • Is it ok for leaders to not admit they have made a mistake?

    It's not ok for leaders to cover up, deny a mistake, pretend, or hide there was a mistake. Listen in as Dr Rachel Bacon, Deputy Commissioner of Integrity, Reform, and Enabling Services at the Australian Public Service Commission, explains how in her experience at an institutional level, in reviews when something has gone terribly wrong or there has been a failure, covering it up is often just as bad if not worse than admitting there was a mistake in the first place. It undermines trust and confidence at an organisational level and a cultural level. Rachel provides insights on the importance of leaders showing vulnerability and how this opens the path to a pro-integrity culture that's innovative and where everyone feels psychologically safe.

  • How can building networks within your cohort be valuable?

    Building networks within your cohort is incredibly valuable as it can help you act with a cross-agency and one-APS mindset. Listen in as Dr Rachel Bacon, Deputy Commissioner of Integrity, Reform, and Enabling Services at the Australian Public Service Commission, provides an example of this from the Indo-Pacific Academy course being run as part of the APS Reform Agenda and the powerful connections and outcomes she's seen.

  • What advice would you give leaders experiencing significant change?

    Listen in as Dr Rachel Bacon, Deputy Commissioner of Integrity, Reform, and Enabling Services at the Australian Public Service Commission, shares her perspectives on dealing with and approaching change from an adaptable and learning mindset. Rachel talks about working through change with a curious and open mindset, which helps you shift your thinking to the opportunity that the change presents. She also discusses the importance of resilience and perseverance with the stuff that's less fun.  

  • How can leaders evolve their approach to developing younger workforces?

    Janet Schorer, Chief Delivery Officer for TAFE NSW, shares her perspectives on how leaders need to approach the younger workforce with a sense of empathy, understanding what it means to be a young person starting their career in today's world and having an appreciation that it is different to where you were, and how they can lean on their experiences to help ease the pressure of burnout.

  • How have workplaces changed throughout your career?

    Janet Schorer, Chief Delivery Officer for TAFE NSW, details how the workplace has changed over the past ten years in this frequently asked question: how this change has affected the sense of connection and belonging, and the task that people leaders have to create a sense of belonging within their younger workforces that mirrors that of the workplace environments of twenty years ago.

  • How do you keep your teams motivated through change?

    As an experienced people leader, Janet Schorer, Chief Delivery Officer at TAFE NSW, knows that the sharpest motivator for any workplace is a connection to purpose and how anchoring a purpose can be in times of change and uncertainty. Listen in as Janet explains this further and gives advice on aligning purpose to your own values and how this can guide your career choices.

  • How do you stay true to yourself when helping others?

    What do you stand for? It may appear to be a simple question, but understanding what you're about and what kind of leader you want to be when you're at your best, and your worst is important to think about because it can help you to take the right opportunities that are aligned to your own values. Listen in as Janet Schorer, Chief Delivery Officer at TAFE NSW, explains this further in this frequently asked question.