The Westminster Tradition

• Imagine if... you were leading an orchard of bad apples

  Your shiny new promotion turns out to be more than you bargained for. In this scenario-based "Imagine if..." episode, Caroline and Danielle assume the role of a newly promoted manager who steps into a team they didn’t choose and some character-building challenges. ⚠️ Mild trigger warning for the depiction of toxic colleagues - we've all had one!We cover: Walking the floor and gathering intelHow to give the boss response to a credibility challengeClarifying the authorising environment Lifting work quality When to whip out the whiteboard to create a two-way learning exercise Setting a vision and direction for the team that’s sensitive to the past Responding to bad behaviour that’s not quite misconductTo report or not to report; the risks of weighing inGood egg managers in the Re Meagher case https://hearsay.org.au/graduate-lawyer-fails-in-fair-work-act-bullying-claim/This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

  --------  

  55:42

  --------

  55:42
• Imagine if … your sleepy grants program woke up

  When politics meets process, what’s a conscientious public servant to do? This “Imagine if…” episode puts Alison and Danielle in the shoes of a project manager caught between legality, leadership and media heat — and explores what good judgment looks like when everyone’s waiting to be told what’s important.The first in an “Imagine if…” series as requested by listeners — exploring the messy, real-world dilemmas of public administration.We cover:·      Managing up and whether to buy into your boss’ crazy·      The hurry up and wait of briefing on options ·      Verbal directions and when to turn them into written confirmation ·      When to seek advice on legality ·      Documentation! And the safeguard of personal file noting·      The fallacy of ‘not my job’ when every problem for government is a problem for everyone in government·      Having multiple comms plans and when not to pick up the phone·      The impacts of external pressure on internal process. ·      Trap for the young players: informal intel travels very quickly ·      Who gets to make the decision?·      Building in agility to allow for changing prioritiesShout out to the  Normal Gossip podcast for inspiring this episode: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KVZ16mLZ1bbNlnKemYTzm This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

  --------  

  52:23

  --------

  52:23
• Inside the public service's ‘Human Handbrake’: why reform stalls and how to fix it

  Demos has released a fascinating paper, The Human Handbrake, on the five human habits that stall public sector reform. In this episode we pick through each of them - fear, heroics, tribes, tidiness, and tempo - and test practical fixes from risk stratification to outcome-focused equity. Topics covered include:fear-driven risk culture and how to stratify risksafe-to-fail spaces vs non-negotiable protectionspolicy hero incentives vs long-term stewardshiprecruitment, merit, and better referencestribes and bridges between centre and frontlineproximity, exchanges, and communities of practicesimplicity bias vs equity and local textureoutcome measurement, real-time data, and storytellingpolitical tempo, accountability, and transparent milestonesculture as accelerator, not brake.We covered a wild variety of content in this episode. Here's a smattering:Demos The Human HandbrakeWhat do blueberries have to do with my job?The Trust EquationCONTAINED 30 minutes. 3 rooms. One truth about youth justice.e61 research on the shift in social spend “Dependency should be debated”The newspaper wall in the Kingsman moviesThis podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

  --------  

  50:03

  --------

  50:03
• “It’s just a minor restructure” said no calendar ever

  In our second change management episode, Danielle pulls apart the myth of the “minor” restructure and lay out a practical way to change without breaking the work. From function mapping and ministerial comms to union engagement and the “fourth trimester”, we consider how to make change stick with clarity and care.why six to nine months is realistic for restructuresfunction before form and mapping real workaligning vision to delivery using bottom‑up designministers and boards as informed stakeholders, not decidersthe centralise versus localise accordion and trade‑offsmiddle managers as the glue of changenaming unknowns, iteration, and review cyclesworking with unionsplumbing and HR sequencing that stalls programsafter ‘go‑live’ habits, SOPs, and consistent standardswhat’s up for grabs versus non‑negotiable boundarieslogistics people actually care about: seats, commutes, WFH.This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

  --------  

  49:11

  --------

  49:11
• Who Really Moved My Cheese? Tales from the change management trenches

  Danielle takes us on a romp through change management, starting, as with all good contrarians, with a challenge to the idea of ‘change management’ itself. Some of the ideas covered:Change is happening all the time in government, not just during formal "change management" periodsMost people dislike uncertainty rather than change itselfMission and values-driven staff struggle most with macro changes that shift agency directionMedium-level changes (like new systems) are often underestimated and underfundedThe "don't be a dickhead rule" isn't enough—change management is genuinely difficultLeaders should listen carefully to "change resistors" who may be flagging legitimate risksAdministrative foundations must be solid before change begins (position descriptions, contracts, etc.)Different professional groups (lawyers, scientists, policy officers) respond differently to changeMaintaining a stable core while being honest about what's changing helps navigate transitions.Referenced in this episode:If Books Could Kill pod on Who Moved My Cheese?This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

  --------  

  43:26

  --------

  43:26

More Government podcasts

Trending Government podcasts

About The Westminster Tradition