EP#104: The power of leadership devolution with Blair Comley PSM

Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Service.

Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care Blair Comley PSM tells the story of his public service career, and highlights how devolving leadership in the public sector can reduce risk, increase work quality and staff satisfaction.

Blair Comley PSM looks back at an outstanding career across the public and private sectors, from designing the GST to driving the Department of Health and Aged Care’s recent capability review.

On this episode of Work with Purpose, he revisits some of the milestones of his career and how they have shaped his approach to devolution – where mid-level staff in the public sector are empowered to make decisions and build closer relationships important stakeholders. He discusses the three key ingredients to make it happen at your organisation: skills, culture, and capability.

In conversation with podcast host David Pembroke, Blair also explores uplifting policy capability at the Department of Health and Aged Care, communicating with success, and what role consultants can play in public sector work.

Discussed in this episode:

· Devolution and its benefits for the public sector

· The Department of Health and Aged Care’s capability review

· Uplifting policy-making capability

· Key writing and communications skills for policymakers

· Lessons from consulting work

· The role of consulting in the public service

· The importance of optimism for driving innovation.

Shownotes

Capability review | Department of Health and Aged Care

Daniel Goleman | Emotional intelligence

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