It’s that time of the election cycle: the caretaker period looms. With it comes a degree of uncertainty that the public service knows all too well. The prospect of a new government always brings with it the potential for departmental upheaval. But even if the government remains the same, the post-election period typically involves strategic rethinks, reshuffles, and other people movements. The sense of uncertainty this time around is magnified by the prospect of a hung parliament and the extended negotiations that may follow. 

No matter what the election outcome, it is important for leaders at all levels to be thinking about how to set themselves and their teams up for success. The election period, including any machinery of government changes that might follow it, also presents an opportunity to strengthen resilience, uphold APS values, and ensure that people feel valued and supported, no matter what shifts around them.

Nous has prepared a paper for APS leaders about how to manage this potentially difficult period. The piece covers:

  • how to leverage caretaker period to enable strategic thinking;
  • the importance of clear, honest, empathetic communication;
  • the concept of stewardship as legacy;
  • how to manage your employees’ sense of loss; and
  • the importance of modelling behaviours for your staff in trying times.

Buttressed with illustrative examples from Nous’ extensive work with government, the piece is designed to give APS leaders some clear, easy-to-follow ideas about how to maintain a resilient and productive workforce amidst the uncertainty, confusion, and often anxiety of the election period.

The document, ‘Riding the whirlwind: Leadership amidst political uncertainty’, is available for download here.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help your organisation navigate periods of uncertainty and change.

Connect with Alice Arch and Nick Humpries on LinkedIn.

Prepared with input from Andrew Benoy, Tanya Smith, and Trish Woolley.