Taking the time and effort to capture the sentiment and feedback and presenting this back to your decision-makers in a format they would appreciate and understand cannot be underestimated. Listen in as Maree Bridger, Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication, and the Arts, discusses this further through her experiences working in the public sector.
Listen to her full episode here
Listen in as Gina Dolan, General Manager of People and Culture at the ACCC, as she myth busts the perceptions of what works in terms of working from the office and from home. The truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and leaders today need to deliberate about creating rituals and ways of working that encompass the diversity of the people they are working with. While you may not have the right answer, and things that work today may not work tomorrow, you must continue to adapt to find the right balance to create a healthy culture that gives people the flexibility they need.
Listen to her full episode here
Kate Driver, CEO of IPAA ACT and co-founder and board member of the CoRE Learning Foundation, talks about the importance of thinking about the impact you are trying to achieve in this frequently asked question. Kate talks about how valuing diversity and the impact of what you are doing, not necessarily how you get there, can help to start opening up a different culture that speaks to different interests and focuses, and by grounding these conversations in respect and curiosity, you can begin to shape it differently. Listen to her episode here
Listen in as Janet Schorer, Chief Delivery Officer for TAFE NSW, looks back at her experiences early in her career when she took her first step into leading people. Janet talks about the importance of having an open mind, listening to feedback from leaders and champions around you who see potential in you that you may not see, and learning how to be that mentor for someone else. Listen to her episode here
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. Listen to her episode here
“You can’t be strong for others and create the environment you want if you aren’t feeling safe yourself.” Mandy Young, Chief Executive of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority, shares some wise advice for leaders in starting to become more inclusive to begin by being kind to themselves, giving yourself space and time to retreat and rebuild if that’s the right place for you and that it’s all about getting the right balance and getting to know yourself too. Listen to her episode here
“Kindness is always the answer, and being inclusive is just about being kind and respectful of other people.” Mandy Young, Chief Executive of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority, explains this further in this frequently asked question as she talks about how important diversity is and the diversity of thought, which enables people to have real conversations that can achieve better outcomes. Listen to her episode here
Being your authentic self is something that you need to bring to the workplace. Listen in as Judith Formston, Deputy Chief Executive of Corporate Services at the Department of Health and Wellbeing SA, talks about her experiences as a leader and how important it is for others to see you as a relatable human being and that when you do go through tough times, they will sit on the floor with their team and chip in to come up with solutions together. Judith also talks about how, as leaders, you must be willing to take on feedback, pivot, be open and transparent about why you have made decisions, and communicate well.
Listen to her full episode here
Erma Ranieri, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment in South Australia, provides an example of a mentoring program that she set up off the back of International Women’s Day about five years ago where she took a group of ten younger women over the course of twelve months and helped them to develop their career plan and navigate challenges that they were experiencing. Most of those women have now gone on to achieve things, but above that, they have become better people. Erma also details how mentoring programs are crucial in raising awareness of important issues. Listen to her full episode here
In the past, leaders who wore their hearts on their sleeves were often not seen as strong leaders. Once seen as a sign of weakness but now seen as a sign of strength, authentic leaders who show vulnerability are the leaders that people want to follow. Erma Ranieri, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment for South Australia, explains how she has shared her lived experiences with her staff and how she has used these to make a difference so that others will not experience the same disadvantages that she has experienced throughout her career. Listen to her episode here
Gender and diversity are really important to Tess Bishop. As the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary of Strategy, Enterprise, and Engagement at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, Tess is the gender champion and is passionate about supporting women in leadership. Tess explains that diversity is many things; at its essence, it’s really about embracing that we are all different and come from various backgrounds. If we can come together and bring our differences to the table, and leaders can take an open-minded approach, they can leverage great benefits.
Listen to her full episode here