So now we have a new Prime Minister. Again.
What we now need from our government is vision, unity of purpose, clarity and certainty from the leadership. We need thoughtful and intelligent debate. We need optimism, aspiration, compassion and hope.
For what it’s worth, here are my top 10
tips for the new leadership of the Australian Government.
- Before you get started again, get your own house in order. Build a new leadership team that embraces diversity. Diversity of gender, age, ethnicity, thought, skill, perspective, background, life experience. Empower all leaders to play to their strengths but also ensure that they coalesce as a team.
- Don’t give Cabinet positions to people on the basis of political favour. Do it on the basis of Point 1.
- Gain consensus on how you will work effectively together as a team to agree on priorities and make decisions. Then convey this to the general public.
- Get rid of people in Cabinet who don’t want to buy-in to the above.
- Enable the leader to get out and lead from the front. The leader needs to convey the vision for the future and inspire others to follow. Enable and empower others to use their strengths to support the PM in this effort behind the scenes.
- Stop talking to the public in three-word slogans. What we need is advocacy and intelligent dialogue not moronic and meaningless platitudes.
- Focus on policy and positive communication that puts Australia on the world stage and enables us to be perceived as clever, innovative, creative, strong and influential. Stop focusing on policy and communication that makes us feel fearful, negative and powerless or that caters to the red-neck loonies, the self-interested and/or the squeakiest wheels.
- Tackle the big issues of our time with purpose and gusto on the world stage – climate change, environmental degradation and international turmoil.
- Tackle the big issues that affect all Australians - tax reform, better health for all Australians. Invest in the future through education and support for innovation. Transform the health system to focus on prevention of illness as well as treatment.
- And Malcolm, don’t wear a blue tie to work every day.