Ruth's Reflections
18 December 2024 | Dr Ruth Adams
Love them or hate them, one of the things I enjoy watching or reading at Christmas and the New Year are the reviews of the year. The opportunity to look back and think…’was that really this year!’ or ‘I’d forgotten that happened!’ It always enables me the moment of self-indulgence to reflect on my year and consider what I’d like to achieve next.
As my first full year at South East Employers will soon conclude, I reflect with thanks that I have got to spend so much time in the SE and meet so many Councillors, Chief Officers and their teams. Building new partnerships and relationships, collaborating on shared issues has been rewarding. Personally leading work on management development training in several Authorities, was a real battery charger for me as I experience the energy and enthusiasm for public service and the desire to keep improving.
When I work with managers in training, in recognition of time being a scarce and precious resource, I always challenge people to consider what they are going to start to do, what they need to stop doing and what they need to continue to do more of. A universal response is always about working more closely with others to join up to develop solutions to shared problems or just to get a diversity of views that brings fresh and new perspectives.
The opportunities to collaborate on shared issues in 2025 are considerable. This week’s White Paper signals the commencement of a concerted move towards sustained change within the sector. As with all change this can be fraught with uncertainty, risk and challenge for both leaders and for their teams. I am committed to ensuring South East Employers, working closely with our partner South East Councils, is positioned to support all Council’s and their partners in managing this change process, be this with technical HR or governance support or more generally….in navigating some of the challenges and opportunities of devolution. Whatever the opportunity, challenge, or issue, feel free to get in touch.
To all Councillors, Chief Officers, Senior Leadership Teams, and all Local Authority and public sector workers, if you celebrate Christmas have a wonderful time. If you don’t celebrate, I hope you have a restful time. To all my colleagues at SEE, our Member Representatives, and the SEE Executive Committee thank you for making it a great first full year and for all your support.
2025 we are ready and coming for you with optimism and enthusiasm that collectively we can achieve great things.