Page 4 The Lessons I Learned In the 1980’s public service, I was surrounded by experienced mentors and senior officers who not only knew the work but carried themselves with dignity, responsibility, and pride. They embodied diligence in every sense of the word - not as a concept to be memorised, but as a daily practice that shaped how they served and how I learned. In those early years, I learned discipline through the example of officers who held firm to procedures even when shortcuts seemed easier. They taught me that consistency is not rigidity, but the backbone of fairness and accountability. It was not always the glamorous part of public service, but it was the most essential. Discipline is about maintaining ethical conduct, consistency, adherence to governance frameworks and importantly, knowing when to act, when to wait, and when to walk away, regardless of how you feel in the moment. Guiding Principle: Maintain discipline in public service by applying rules and policies consistently and fairly, even when under pressure or faced with challenging circumstances. Integrity, too, was not a distant value; it showed up in the way my mentors spoke truth in difficult rooms, upheld transparency in decisions, and reminded me that public trust is both fragile and sacred. Their example taught me that character and credibility are the real currency of service. Integrity involves acting with honesty, transparency, and fairness to strengthen public trust. Integrity requires doing the right thing even when no one is watching, staying true to your values, and honouring your word, even when it is inconvenient or difficult. Guiding Principle: Continuously demonstrate honesty and strong moral principles in all actions, while actively reflecting on situations to identify areas where integrity can be strengthened. Leadership, I came to see, was not about position but about influence and presence. The senior professionals I looked up to led by listening, by guiding others, and by modeling behaviour worth following. They practiced inclusive leadership, ensuring that every voice, whether junior or senior, could find a place at the table. Leadership requires the courage to make tough decisions, the humility to listen, the vision to inspire, and the consistency to lead by example, even when no one is applauding. Guiding Principle: Exhibit leadership in daily responsibilities by setting a positive example, guiding others toward shared goals, and taking initiative to inspire teamwork and accountability. I saw innovation not only in technology but in the creativity of colleagues who found ways to deliver more with less, especially in times of constraint. This resilience, rooted in resourcefulness, was its own form of excellence. Innovation entails embracing creativity and adaptive thinking to design solutions. It therefore requires curiosity to question the norm, courage to take risks, creativity to imagine new possibilities, and persistence to turn ideas into reality, even in the face of failure. Guiding Principle: Embrace creativity and continuous improvement by seeking out and applying new ideas, tools, and methods that enhance efficiency and add value to your work. Governance was not a word we repeated in policy documents alone; it was visible in the systems of accountability, in the careful record-keeping, and in the culture of responsibility that made institutions stronger than individuals. Good governance is about upholding systems of accountability, participation, and oversight. It means making decisions that are transparent, inclusive, and fair, serving the needs of all, not just the few. It hinges on putting principles before politics, and long-term progress before short-term gain. Guiding Principle: Promote transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making by adhering to established policies, documenting actions accurately, sharing information openly, and taking • Continues on the next page
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