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Secondees could strongly correlate an
improvement in
lateral thinking
and
problem-
solving skills
with their time on secondment. Tracey
Benson explained: ‘Since my secondment I’m more
likely to come up with other ways or different
thoughts about how to approach a problem. Just
because we’ve always done things a certain way as
public servants doesn’t always mean it’s the best
way. I think that’s where the value lies coming back
to work.’ Tom Hughes had a similar experience on
his return to work. ‘I went from being an engineer
who’s straight down the line and straight out of
the manual, to being able to actually think about
stuff outside of it.’ Rachel Yang reflected: ‘The
experience has permeated my whole professional
life. I’ve realised that you don’t necessarily need to
take the traditional path and am now more open to
approaching things in different ways.’
The link between soft skills and leadership has
been widely studied and validated over the last
two decades.
16
Many secondees reported that the
soft skill growth they experienced during their
secondment enhanced their
personal leadership
brand
at work. Melanie Evans said she learnt
valuable lessons about leadership, which she has
been able to apply to her current role. ‘I became far
more conscious of everyone’s eyes being on me,
that I was a role model in that community for that
period of time. In terms of the way I lead now, that
was a big lesson for me around people watching
for your cues and your behaviour.’ Bonnie Carter
was seconded to the La Perouse Local Aboriginal
Land Council in 2013. She was strongly influenced
by observing the CEO’s leadership style: ‘I learnt
from CEO Chris Ingrey a style of leadership that is
very genuine. I see a lot of people around my age
flying up the corporate ladder wanting to become
leaders very quickly, but it’s not perceived as being
genuine yet. I want to take time to get to know the
people I lead and have genuine belief in them.’
Melissa Noonan from Westpac said her experience
taught her ‘that I’ve actually got to walk beside
people, not in front of them, not behind them—and
I’ve got to listen to what they want. We come from
such a task-oriented world, but the world these
Indigenous leaders are living in is about how they
connect with their people to bring them on
a journey.’
Trish Clancy said her secondment has enhanced
her credibility as a leader:
The experience I had working with Indigenous
communities is very much a part of my brand at
work—I’m interested in these things, I’ve had an
active role, it’s something I’m passionate about,
and because BCG works with the public service
in allied areas that gives me credibility.
Teneille Nuggins (Senior Sport and Recreation Coordinator, PCYC Hope Vale) and Luke Raffin (BCG secondee), Cape York, 2010.
Photo: Daniel Linnet, Linnet Foto
22 JAWUN
2015 LEARNINGS AND INSIGHTS