Australia is a democracy. It may not be a perfect democracy -- what is perfection, after all? -- but it is a democracy nonetheless. This may mean different things to different people, but, at its heart, democracy means conversing, listening, understanding, and reaching a consensus on the best course of action for society -- a consensus that represents the broader needs of all of our citizens.
As Friday afternoon wore on, and thoughts turned towards the weekend, as they naturally do at this time, news began to break of sickening events taking place across the Tasman Sea. Sketchy reports emerged, filled with the kind of words that can only turn stomachs – words like “shots fired”, words like “panic”, “violence”, “desperation”.
Today, 39% of Australia's agricultural output depends on this water system, and over three million people rely on the basin's waterways to survive.
But this precious resource is dying. Severe droughts have shrunk water levels at a dangerous rate, resulting in the deaths of countless plants and animals within the system, and pushing numerous businesses, individuals, and even entire communities to the brink.
If you get sick or injured in Australia, you are in good hands. Australia continues to score highly when it comes to health care, and is consistently ranked among some of the world's best health care systems, thanks to high-quality infrastructure and some of the best doctors in the world.
One thing that unites us is receiving a ‘telling off’. Every one of us — from the straight A students to the young rebels — has been on the receiving end of a stern ticking off at some time or another in our childhood, perhaps from a teacher, a parent, or another member of our community. So today we explore what happens when we don't do as we're told (and so we do nothing) and how does this dissonant leadership style affects our next generation of leaders.
Leadership is - and has always been - about finding the balance between continuity and change. As leaders, across all spheres, it is valuable to recognise what is working, and what needs to be altered to achieve the right outcomes for all.
There are three key attributes that can help leaders take steps towards resonance, helping them to avoid the pitfalls of 'sacrifice syndrome'.
We can observe that dissonant leadership styles contribute to stress and anxiety within the groups they are supposed to serve. Structures of authority are reinforced, and a climate of fear ensures that ‘things get done’. There is no warmth or togetherness. There is only the threat of
Social and emotional intelligence are not only valuable attributes in a leader; they are critical elements of a thriving community or society. Without an element of emotional investment in the situations of others, without a degree of empathy and altruism applied to our daily lives, society as a whole would begin to disintegrate.
Many of us will never experience the weight of responsibility which comes with leading an organisation like the Red Cross. However, most of us will find ourselves in a position in which strong leadership is necessary, whether this is in the workplace, in public office, or within our own homes or social groups.