One of the things I’ve learned in over 20 years of working in Local Government is that leadership is fluid. Not only do we all lead differently, but different situations require different leadership styles. While a good leader knows this, a great leader also knows  when it’s time to take a step back and let…

We live in a world where the current definitions of leadership have a post-heroic connotation. The claim is that it is possible to be a leader without being a hero.  The argument goes that heroic leaders are viewed as being omnipotent within the organisation, that their all-powerful position leads to the disempowering of colleagues and thus dilutes…

The work of Blackadder Associates across Australia tells us that times are moving quickly, and managers are moving even faster. Whether through retirement, organisation change or the greater mobility of the workforce, jobs for life are uncommon. When managers move on to other ventures they leave a temporary gap in the management team that must…

In my experience, people working in public service tend to have a sense of humility that you perhaps wouldn’t find elsewhere. Self-serving and boastful Gordon Gecko, ‘greed is good’ types, really aren’t attracted to local government. If anything, the pendulum has swung too far the other way – I find that many Council managers tend…