EP#164: The relational leader with Jaala Hinchcliffe

On the penultimate episode of Work with Purpose, Jaala Hinchcliffe, Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services, shines a light on the important, yet often unseen work of DPS, and discusses why integrity is not simply something people have or lack, but rather a skill that must be practised.

When you make a mistake at work, what is your first impulse? Do you trust your leaders to work it through with you?

On this episode, Jaala speaks with host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, about how managing mistakes – your own and others’ – shapes integrity culture in organisations. She argues that good leadership means building culture deliberately, practising integrity, supporting people to admit and fix mistakes, and preparing institutions like DPS for the future while protecting their democratic purpose.

Jaala also explores how DPS supports parliament to function, and what it means to lead its highly diverse workforce, from art curation to research.

Key tips:

1.       Practise integrity before you need it. Talk through tricky scenarios with colleagues, build the habit of doing the right thing, and create space to raise concerns early.

2.      Own mistakes quickly and respond constructively. If something goes wrong, name it, fix it, and learn from it. For leaders, the integrity test is how they respond: “Thank you for telling me — let’s fix it” builds trust and prevents bigger problems.

3.       Build relationships and treat people well. The public service can feel large, but careers often reconnect people over many years. Be generous, form genuine connections, leave roles well, and ask for advice when you need it.

Shownotes

• Secretary Series: Jaala Hinchcliffe, Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services | IPAA ACT
• Department of Parliamentary Services

Work with Purpose is created by contentgroup in association with IPAA ACT

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