So, I’ve just finished reading Paul Kelly’s fascinating and non-partisan insight into the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Governments of 2007-13: “Triumph and Demise: the Broken Promise of a Labor Generation”.  There is so much to learn from this period of our history.

One major point that leaps out of these pages is the importance of teamwork.  The Prime Minister is the nation’s leader, sure, but he/she is one member of a team of over 100 other members of Parliament.  It is a foolish leader who ignores the abilities, ideas, concerns, thoughts of the other members of the team when pushing for change.  Unfortunately, this is exactly what Kevin Rudd did.  He tried to micro-manage and control every aspect and policy of his Government, and this is bound to fail.  And it did.

Trying to do everything yourself, as Rudd did, leaves you exhausted and totally drained – physically, emotionally, mentally – and therefore not able to do your best in any area.  It also ignores the fact that others in your team will be better placed to do certain tasks than you are, based on their skills, abilities, experiences, etc.  And thirdly, as Rudd found out so spectacularly in 2010, it turns your team members into opponents, so hurt by your snubbing of them, that they turn against you and undermine your leadership, even to the point of outright revolt.

Another key lesson for Governments, and businesses, is the importance or bringing your constituents/clients/employees with you on the journey you wish to undertake.  This was a major failing of the Gillard Government.  Prime Minister Gillard failed continually to convince the Australian public of the importance of and need for the policy direction she was heading.  Communication failures meant the people felt disconnected from the Government, didn’t understand the decisions being taken, and didn’t see the benefits of the policies proposed.  As a result, they turned against the Government, preferring either the status quo, or the alternative ideas, being better presented by the Opposition and other groups.  This is the death knell for any Government, or business, wishing to effect change.  The same outcome occurred in Queensland, when the Liberal National Party Government spectacularly lost the 2015 election, after failing to bring the people along with them in the necessary, but difficult, reform path.

There is so much more to glean from this period of history, and especially in the excellent work done by Paul Kelly in analysing what worked, and what went so wrong.  The difficulties of reform, negotiating with outside influences (ie the rest of the world), the power of the media (including social media) to dictate direction, the folly of poll-driven politics, and so much more. It is well worth a read.

Hopefully, our current and future Governments can avoid falling into these same traps, and can lead Australia forward.