EP#104/125: Revisiting ‘The power of leadership devolution with Blair Comley PSM'

Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

Today, we listen back to a 2024 Work with Purpose episode with Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care Blair Comley PSM. Blair 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 from June last year, 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 with 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, CEO of contentgroup, 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.

Key tips:

1. Put your hand up for challenging tasks – look at opportunities where you can go further without exhausting yourself.
2. Devolve where feasible – it reduces risks and increases quality and level of staff satisfaction.
3. If you want to make things happen, you should look to always preserve a sense of optimism.

Show notes:

• Capability review | Department of Health and Aged Care
• Daniel Goleman | Emotional intelligence

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