{"id":334889,"date":"2025-12-08T13:42:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T13:42:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/lessons-in-leadership-civil-service\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T13:42:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T13:42:55","slug":"lessons-in-leadership-civil-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=334889","title":{"rendered":"Lessons in Leadership \u2013 Civil Service"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Civil Service award winner Chris Atkinson topped the category for Inspirational Leadership. Below, Chris shares the secrets of his success.<\/strong><\/p>\n
When I was asked to write a blog about leadership, I immediately found the spectre of self-doubt raising its ugly head. \u201cSure what could I say about that?\u201d \u201cOthers would do that better,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m not perfect\u201d etc. But when I stopped to think about it, I realised that actually I\u2019ve learnt a huge amount about leadership from others over the years and that it\u2019s OK to still be a work in progress. In fact, surely it\u2019s better to be aware of that.<\/p>\n
So I thought I\u2019d approach this blog by sharing some of my most valuable leadership lessons from people over my career to date. I\u2019m sure others should be here \u2013 so why don\u2019t we get a conversation going in the comments section about what you\u2019ve learned about leading well?<\/p>\n
Put people at ease and listen<\/strong> Gerardine (one of my really early bosses) taught me the importance of putting people at ease, and listening actively to their concerns and thoughts. Empathy goes a long way, as does getting people comfortable. It sets you up for a much better conversation, and can help diffuse a tense, tricky one.<\/p>\nCivil Service Award Winner Chris Atkinson topped the category for Inspirational Leadership<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Manage information<\/strong> Gillian taught me to manage information well, so you had it when you needed it, and because it\u2019s the right thing to do. I\u2019m still working on that one, but haven\u2019t forgotten [squirming] the day I had to explain to my boss, why I\u2019d left some loose forms in files. I was much better prepared for a routine audit because of it.<\/p>\n
Have a laugh<\/strong> Gillian also taught me the value of having a laugh at work. She had a great capacity for storytelling, and made sure we all took time away from our desks, knowing that all work, all day wasn\u2019t good for anyone.<\/p>\n
Establish the facts<\/strong> Liz taught me the importance of establishing facts \u2013 not taking actions based on assumptions or overreacting. She imbued the importance of measuring performance well and planning improvements.<\/p>\n
We can only know how we\u2019re doing if we measure success appropriately and ask for feedback, and then challenge ourselves: \u2018How can I\/we do that better?\u2019 Sometimes that means carving out space despite the urgent stuff clambering for attention to really dig into these questions.<\/p>\n
Liz empowered me to take that time, to crowd-source ideas, to explore improvements and to take risks, and I\u2019ll never forget the difference that made both for me and my team.<\/p>\n
Take a break<\/strong> Holly taught me that taking a break can often be the best way of getting reinvigorated to deal with a knotty problem. Taking a Boxer from Animal Farm \u201cI will work harder\u201d approach often doesn\u2019t produce the best result (or do much for your wellbeing). Instead, teams generally work better together to solve issues.<\/p>\n
Holly was also a master in making sure the right people in Whitehall knew what was going on \u2013 something that can make life much easier at crunch points, and so valuable because we\u2019ve so much to gain from others\u2019 experience.<\/p>\n
Express yourself well<\/strong> Christine taught me that taking time to express things really clearly in reports and documents was an investment worth making. I still fire off emails that are clear to me though not to others, and I\u2019m perhaps too fond of tracked changes, but I am committed to expressing myself well.<\/p>\n
After all, if we can help people understand problems, issues, evidence, risks, analysis and possible solutions through our written communication, then we\u2019re much more likely to have a productive conversation about ways forward and deliver the right result.<\/p>\n
Who are you helping?<\/strong> Patricia and Roy (two tutors at college) taught me the value of asking: who am I trying to help and why? It\u2019s easy to overlook, but actually, when we\u2019ve got that clear in our heads, we take a much better approach to decision making, and it\u2019s a massive motivator.<\/p>\n
Big picture<\/strong> Ed showed me the value of pausing to consider the bigger picture, and carefully thinking through implications of decisions for others. Ed read people so well; always happy to let you have your say, he took time to mull something over, asked the right probing questions, and then worked with you on an answer that was so much richer.<\/p>\n
Let me get back to you\u2026<\/strong> Chris and Ruth taught me a really significant one: It\u2019s OK to say, \u201cI\u2019ll find out and let you know.\u201d It\u2019s tough to say when put on the spot, and yet is by far the best strategy rather than a partial or woolly attempt. Ruth is also the clearest draftsperson I know, and pushed me to express myself really clearly. Everyone needs a Ruth in their lives at some point.<\/p>\n
Look out for people<\/strong> Colin wasn\u2019t a direct line manager, but taught me the huge importance of looking out for people. I\u2019m sure parents, teachers and youth leaders taught me that too, yet Colin exemplified it so well. He was never too busy to ask how someone was, even juggling 10 different people needing his attention. I\u2019m still blown away by that ability, and aspire to learn from it.<\/p>\n
These are just some of my most important leadership lessons. Who am I trying to help, what\u2019s the best way to understand the problem, how do I build a solution with others, what might be motivating someone and how can I level with them, how can I call out the best in other people, all without losing myself along the way. But leadership\u2019s a journey; I know I\u2019ll learn more in future, and I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve loads to say on the subject too \u2013 so I\u2019m all ears.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the most important leadership lesson someone has ever taught you?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Civil Service award winner Chris Atkinson topped the category for Inspirational Leadership. Below, Chris shares the secrets of his success. When I was asked to write a blog about leadership, I immediately found the spectre of self-doubt raising its ugly head. \u201cSure what could I say about that?\u201d \u201cOthers would do that better,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":334890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[127841,160094],"tags":[17697,11655,5200,4934],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-334889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-civil-service-leaders","category-civil-service-learning","tag-civil","tag-leadership","tag-lessons","tag-service"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n![\"Civil](\"https:\/\/civilservice.blog.gov.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/86\/2021\/06\/CSAwardWinnerChrisAtkinson-300x200.jpg\")