10 lessons on leadership

Sue Essex was a senior minister in the Welsh Government between 2000-2007, running departments including finance, environment, transport and planning.  She worked closely with the late Rhodri Morgan and was instrumental in stabilising government in the early days of devolution.

Shortly after starting at Sustrans in November 2016, I met with Sue Essex to pick her brains on leadership and delivering change in the field of sustainable development.

It’s from that conversation that I pulled together 10 key points:

1.    Have a vision and tell a story

2.    Have master plan – with the end in sight

3.    Create space to think

4.    Invite challenge

5.    Collaborate; but do it well or don’t bother

6.    Build a team and treat people with respect

7.    Read

8.    Understand your surroundings

9.    Never take anything for granted

10.Don’t ignore the nuts and bolts