McKinnon Institute CEO Prof Rod Glover has addressed the OECD Network of Schools of Government at its annual meeting in May. 

Speaking in Florence, Italy, Rod provided delegates with a comprehensive overview of the Institute’s work delivering professional development support to political leaders. More than a third of Australia’s federal, state and territory politicians have now participated in MKI programs.

The OECD Network of Schools of Government brings together directors of government schools and heads of public sector training institutions to exchange experiences and best practices to equip civil servants with the skills needed to meet policy challenges. 

The Governing Marriage: Complementary Capabilities

Rod contrasted the capabilities of an effective minister with those of an effective public servant, noting that although there were many similarities, there was value in highlighting a few of the differences.

First, politics is competitive as much as collaborative. 

"The objective function and drivers of politicians are not the same as that of the public service; politics is sometimes a zero-sum game, not a win-win collaboration',” Rod said. 

Public servants, in contrast, have more latitude to be collaborative, open and transparent. 

Second, politicians must win hearts as well as minds. Their core competencies include mobilising stakeholder support, convening winning coalitions, and connecting with people through compelling, persuasive communications. 

Meanwhile, the public sector is at its best when synthesising and making sense of evidence and data, or when designing smart processes to get things done. 

Finally, delivering outcomes and trust requires attention to practice as well as policy. Politicians are often far more alive to the needs of their constituents than their public sector counterparts.