Tasmanian Leaders is a genuinely place-based organisation.
We work to understand leadership in Tasmania so we can design relevant programs, help leaders navigate the context here, and support action that strengthens our State.
Through our leadership and action research we connect our network, deepen shared understanding of the issues shaping our State, and support alumni-led community action projects that contribute to positive change in Tasmania.
Our Leadership Labs bring together practitioners and leading academics to explore the challenges facing Tasmania and generate new thinking about leadership. Two recent thought leadership papers from these Labs are available below, alongside other initiatives that form part of our Leadership in Action and Research work.
Building Belonging Through Leadership : A discussion paper for Tasmanian Leaders
When belonging is weak, wellbeing declines, innovation slows, and communities begin to fragment.
Our latest discussion paper, Building Belonging Through Leadership : A discussion paper for Tasmanian Leaders authored by Dr Joseph Crawford reveals that belonging isn’t a soft sentiment, it is the foundation of effective leadership. It shows how leaders can create cultures of safety, trust and shared purpose that help people and organisations thrive.
Key takeaways:
- Tasmania reports its highest digital connectivity, and yet faces its greatest level of social disconnection and loneliness, with workplaces often struggling to create environments where people feel valued, connected, and productive.
- Hybrid work, transactional organisational cultures, and limited investment in evidence-based approaches mean that belonging is often left to chance. Leaders report that strategies are fragmented, with little clarity on what belonging really is, or how to foster it.
- Building belonging must be recognised as an essential leadership capability. Workplaces can be more than sites of employment; they can become sites of connection, growth, and community strength. Leaders who embed belonging will not only enhance organisational outcomes but will also contribute to the broader social fabric of Tasmania.
Access the paper: Building Belonging Through Leadership
Leading in Complexity 2024: An Initial Enquiry in Tasmania
Leading in Complexity 2024: An Initial Enquiry in Tasmania by complexity leadership expert Dr. Aiden M. A. Thornton delves into the distinctive challenges and opportunities for developing leadership within the Tasmanian context. Through an in-person workshop and survey, the report draws on the experiences of dozens of leaders across multiple sectors, to illustrate the challenges of leading productively and inclusively in today’s environment.
The report explores 14 essential complexity leadership skills ranging from self-awareness and resilience to systems thinking and digital competency. Recommendations include embedding these skills into educational and leadership programs, fostering collective leadership development, and establishing conflict resolution frameworks to address polarisation and competing priorities.
This work is more than an inquiry into complexity leadership—it is a call to action. Understanding the challenges Tasmanian leaders face and the skills they need is just the first step; real impact comes from applying these insights.
Key takeaways:
- Tasmanian leaders grapple with complex systems, entrenched structures and competing priorities in a tightly interconnected state
- Outdated systems, socio-economic disparities, and limited resources hinder bold and adaptive leadership
- Leaders must adopt systems thinking, collaboration, digital and technological competency, and innocation to effectively navigate complexity while balancing preservation and economic progress.
Access the paper: Leading in Complexity 2024
