So You Want to be a Councillor?

Our communities need good leadership. Are you up to it? October is time for the next WA Council elections, in all 139 Council areas. I thought I’d be bold and suggest some attributes that might be valuable to a Councillor. If you are active in local clubs and groups and are concerned about our future, you might like to self-assess.

MUST HAVE

• Interest in long-term direction of your local community
• Listening skills, prepared to listen more often than to tell
• Prepared to meet with the community, often
• At least one, and often two or three evenings a week to dedicate to the community
• Able to read and understand a voluminous weekly information pack
• Ability to think strategically about organisational purpose
• Effective decision-making skills
• Understand the difference between individual and group decision-making
• Able to work to sustain long-term viability and define values for self and the Council
• Able to imagine and lead new future directions
• Empathy
• Able to discuss widely differing opinions respectfully and to disagree agreeably
• Able to synthesise direction amidst complexity and conflicting values and objectives
• Understand the difference between management and leadership (councillors have no executive authority at all)
• Not be focussed on a ‘single issue’
• Be prepared to assess your own biases and positions

SHOULD HAVE

• Ability to read and interpret financial reports
• Sense of humour
• Collaborative style
• Wide range of contacts and life experience
• Be well travelled and widely read
• An enquiring mind
• Risk assessment skills
• Open to continuous learning

GOOD TO HAVE

• Expertise in at least one relevant field, e.g. architecture, town planning, finance, environment, waste, law, social services, communications, psychology, science.
• Board experience
• Qualifications such as MBA, GAICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors)
• Preparedness to respond with good grace and respect in all sorts of circumstances
  
  
• Please realise too that the maximum allowance for your work is between nine and thirty thousand dollars a year (edited 2013), so you really do have to be motivated by spirit.
  The vital point is that you can make a real difference to the present and future of your community.
  Oh, and if you live in South Perth, don’t forget Tea and Talk in the Park, Sunday 15 May 2011, 3 pm, McDougall Park
  As usual, please click ‘Comments’ below to add your thoughts. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.