The Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) has launched a program for executive staff members to prepare them for a fast-changing world.
Opening applications for its Executive Fellows Program (EFP), ANZSOG said EFP provided a thought-provoking space for senior Public Sector leaders to examine their own leadership and think deeply about the environment they worked in and their purpose as leaders.
“The role of Public Sector leaders is becoming more complex as we move into a ‘COVID normal’ time and decisions are being made that will shape the world for decades to come,” ANZSOG said.
“The nature of leadership is changing, with a greater need for vision, the ability to work across boundaries and understanding how their work fits into the bigger picture,” it said.
ANZSOG said the EFP for 2022 would be delivered entirely online and have a strong focus on social movements that were shaping the current Public Sector environment, as well as the ramifications of the war in Ukraine.
“The first EFP for 2022 will be divided into three separate modules: Leading Self and Others, Leading the Organisation and Systems leadership, all of which focus on different aspects of leadership in the modern Public Sector,” it said.
“The modules encourage self-knowledge and self-mastery as an essential part of good leadership and help participants develop new perspectives on leadership.”
ANZSOG said the Program focused on modes of leadership that moved away from ‘command and control’ and emphasised leadership that was done with and through others, and skills that brought out cooperation and collaboration.
Deputy Dean (Teaching and Learning) at ANZSOG, Catherine Althaus said the 2022 Program would also focus on building post-pandemic resilience, “as well as asking questions about ‘what comes next?’ for the Public Service as it shifts out of pandemic response mode and into natural disaster response and leading through the fraught global tension associated with the Ukraine conflict and its implications for our region”.
Professor Althaus said that the incorporation of social movements into EFP discussions had elicited thoughtful and thought-provoking responses from participants.
“It’s a valuable experience to hear from perspectives outside of the usual suspects and to think about the purpose behind social movements and role of the bureaucracy in responding to them,” she said.
“The recent Wellington Beehive protests show that negative energy continues to simmer in our communities.
“Public Service leaders have to know what to do about this.”
Professor Althaus said the virtual format allowed the 2022 EFP to use a broad range of guest presenters from across the world, who would share their expertise and perspectives on leadership with participants.
“The online Program consists of interactive online sessions, including online sprints and offline reflection – all tailored to fit around the lives of busy Public Sector executives and give them a chance to build a valuable network of fellow leaders from across jurisdictions,” she said.
Further information on the 2022 EFP can be accessed at this PS News link.
