15 Jun 2017

Leaders of various departments and units in the civil service have been encouraged to be team players that get their subordinates actively involved and engaged.  

This was the advice rendered by British life peer, Lord Scriven of Hunters Bar in the City of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, while delivering a keynote address during the sixth annual Public Service Awards held in Gaborone on June 14.

Lord Scriven said great leaders do not impose their will on their subordinates, but develop a vision that get a buy-in from junior officers.

“A great leader does not micro-manage, they encourage diversity and get the team working together by having a vision that is understood and adopted by all,” Lord Scriven said. 

Also, he said leaders should stay respectful to those who work with them, while being stern enough to expect discipline and set standards high enough for each employee to seek to achieve.

“Great leaders need to coach and nurture the abilities of their juniors, and should always set the bar high, and work on getting your team to always want to achieve more,” Lord Scriven said.

He also encouraged civil servants to build open networks, which will allow for everyone to be innovative and be strong team players.

In his intervention, Permanent Secretary to the President, Mr Carter Morupisi congratulated those civil servants who had been selected as award recipients this year.

“Those being rewarded are employees who do their work with utmost humility and inspire others to work harder. 

They are open, honest colleagues who champion the delivery of the public service. 

We thank them for their leadership in this regard,” Mr Morupisi said.

He said that given financial constraints, there had been increasing pressure on government to reduce costs while fast-tracking the delivery of services, and that such required hardworking and innovative civil servants.

“The civil service has the capacity to innovate and the Public Service Convention has been a showcase of what we are capable of. 

As we turn the page to Vision 2036 and the 11^th National Development Plan, we need hardworking, enterprising civil servants,” Mr Morupisi said. 

The best overall performer category went to Boikanyo Dingalo, Ramonko Mmokonyane, Siamisang Sekolo, Rebaone Mosarwa, Madoda Nasha, Kelebeletse Mokobela, Kelebileone Mogome and Kealeboga Sewetse.

Most Innovative Project award went to the Palapye District Health Management Team, Nxao at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital in Maun, Diphetogo Team Francistown and the It is Possible team of the Ministry on Investment, Trade and Industry. 

Individual awards were also given to public servants in various categories, including best performer in the A, B, C and D bands, best change agent as well as best customer centric award. ENDS