Upcoming ANZSOG Webinar Series to Focus on Leading People Through Distruption

The Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) will be presenting a three-part webinar series on ‘Leading People Through Disruption’, beginning on 25 August 2020.

The series will be presented by Dr Jo Cribb — one of the youngest people ever appointed as a chief executive in the New Zealand public service in 2012. Her work has focused on advancing the cause of vulnerable in society, spearheading some of the most difficult issues of our time, including child abuse, child poverty, family violence and vulnerable women.

The webinar series will give participants insights into how to make decisions during a time of crisis and maintain an inclusive and positive style of leadership.

Dr Cribb said that effective leaders created change in a values-based way, and the best were able to empower their staff and admit the limits of their own knowledge and ability.

‘Leadership is about mobilisation, bringing people together and making things better than they were before. You can have that influence at every level and everyone can be part of the leadership team’.

Dr Cribb also said that organisations were too complex and the problems that they had to deal with were too difficult for one person to have all the answers. Leaders needed to be honest and admit they don’t know everything —something particular true in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

‘It is really important for authorities to be honest about what they don’t know when they communicate with the public.

This has been the experience in New Zealand and it has actually strengthened trust in government. We have been able to communicate really complex judgement-based policies and do so effectively.’

The first webinar will focus on leading people through disruption (25 August 2020).

The second webinar will explore what it means to be an inclusive leader under pressure (3 September 2020).

And the third webinar will look at ways to build an inclusive culture during crises (17 September 2020).

Those interested in participating in this series can register on the ANZSOG website.

Author: Frank Exon, Executive Director, IPAA National