ScoMo’s leadership levels take a downturn. What has gone wrong and what should he have done differently?

There are times when leaders can lead without being seen but there are times when leaders need to be seen to be leading. Scott Morrison has missed an opportunity to be seen to lead in relation to the bushfire emergency continuing to unfold across the entire Australian landscape.

Quite simply it started with the poor timing – choosing to go on an overseas holiday, just a week before Christmas, while many Australians are confronted by terrible circumstances. Former Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon’s decision to go out for dinner while the Black Saturday fires raged, was widely condemned. Scott Morrison, who called the fires a “national disaster”, should have put his holidays on hold or at the very least chosen to holiday in Australia and be seen to lead, to publicly express care, concern and empathy for victims and firefighters. (He actually got this right in Sept/Nov when he shared a hug with an 85 year old who was waiting to here if his house had gone near Taree in NSW) Holidays can wait, but incidents of this size and magnitude cannot.

When he got back he compounded the mistake by 1. Not genuinely apologising (a genuine heartfely apology would have made a huge difference at this stage) 2. Touring fire ravaged areas in bright white luxury cars, forcing people to shake hands. (these people have lost their Australian dreams, their homes, they are hostile, angry and rightly so. Turn up in the fire officers ute, sit down have conversations, provide support and assurances and tell them how you will fix it.) 3. Playing cricket with the Aussie cricket team on the lush green grass of Kirribillli house before the New Years test. (have the photo to respect the team but don’t invite the media) 4. Traveling to South Australia’s fire areas and not knowing that two lives had been lost in those fires. (Know categorically how many people have been hurt, how many lives have been lost, how many homes are gone and everything else you need to know BEFORE you show up.

I coach and mentor executives and leaders from all walks off life and have a fail safe methodology that leaders should follow when things go wrong (and they will eventually go wrong)

1. Take responsibility – in ScoMos case “I should not have gone to Hawaii with the crisis building it was a mistake and I take complete responsibility

2. Apologise unequivocally- ScoMO “I want the Australian people to know that I am truly sorry for not being in the country when the crisis unfolded and Being Here to provide direction and support”

3. Tell people how you are going to fix the problem fast – Scomo “I have mobilized the ADF, Authorised payments to volunteer firefighters called away from their homes, families and businesses for long periods, I have consulted with the commissioners and set up the 2 billion dollar fire relief fund. We will support these Australian to rebuild as quickly as possible.”

4. Tell people how you are going to make sure this never happens again – ScMo “As the leader of this country I can promise you I will NEVER put an overseas trip ahead of the emergency needs of this country and it’s people whom I am here to serve. It is a lesson learned and as you know I have cancelled my diplomatic visits to India to do what you elected me to do. Lead this country in good times and bad.”

Here’s what happens. People say to themselves “he is being honest and fair dinkum, he is genuinely sorry and now he has taken control and made sure he never makes the same mistake again. Most people will forgive him and trust him to get on with the job.