Ep#133: The road to the top is paved with difficult conversations: A leadership chat with Ray Griggs AO CSC
On this episode of Work with Purpose, we hear from Ray Griggs AO CSC about what working in the navy has taught him about taking and giving feedback, and why difficult conversations are part and parcel of becoming a better leader.
Ray Griggs AO CSC looks back at a long and distinguished career in the public sector – from Australia’s Defence Force to most recently the Department of Social Services. Along the way, he navigated many difficult conversations, had his views contested, and at times, had to manage failure. In this conversation with host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, he tells us how these challenges contribute to growing as a leader – and as a human.
They also discuss managing large-scale change in complex environments, why you should always do your own fact-checking, and how solutions through new technologies need to be co-designed with Australia’s communities.
Key tips:
- How you respond to people’s views and ideas is crucial. Respond the way you’d like your own leaders to respond to you.
- Never neglect doing your own fact checking. Once you launch into the process, your credibility can be at risk.
- Work out how real a timeline is. Sometimes we impose unrealistic timelines on ourselves.
Guest:
Ray Griggs AO CSC
Ray Griggs commenced was the Secretary Department of Social Services. He is responsible for policy and program delivery in the areas of Families and Children, Housing Support, Social Security, Seniors, Communities and Vulnerable People, Ending Gendered Based Violence, and Disability and Carers.
Ray is chair of the Australian Public Service Disability Champions Network.
Ray was previously the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Australians Agency from 1 July 2019 to 21 July 2021, with responsibility for leading policy, program and delivery reform in line with the government’s commitment to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Prior to this Ray was the Associate Secretary of the Indigenous Affairs Group within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from October 2018 to 30 June 2019. Before joining the Australian Public Service, Ray spent four decades in the Royal Australian Navy, including a range of command and operational roles. His last two positions were as Chief of Navy between 2011–14 and the Vice Chief of Defence Force between 2014–18.