Take 5 with Pioneera is a series of micro interviews with key business leaders on wellness, leadership, productivity and workplace culture.
This week we’re taking 5 with Lisa Sweeney OAM.
Lisa is the Director of Social Impact and Frontline Engagement at Service NSW. Her role involves working to the Premier's Priority of tackling issues of intergenerational disadvantage for the most vulnerable customers, as well as hiring from diverse groups into internships and traineeships. These groups include people from Aboriginal and refugee backgrounds, and women who have recently been homeless because of domestic violence. She also runs the frontline technical training for Service NSW's 4000 frontline staff.
Welcome, Lisa!
1. What does your workday routine look like?
It's all about teamwork. We have a daily team leader catch up to define our priorities and offer each other support, and then the rest of the day is usually spent in meetings and steercos with all areas of Government, working on solutions for different customer groups.
2. How do you stay focused and maintain a positive mindset when things get crazy busy?
I have been in the workforce for more than four decades now and have learned from lived experience that there is no value in letting things get on top of me. I seek help from my team and remain focused on the bigger picture to avoid getting mired in minor frustrations.
3. What are your three must-haves for a healthy work-life integration? And why?
a. I exercise daily and pay close attention to nutrition as I am better able to perform in my role with these routines in place.
b. I have a separate work space and my dog and I pack up and walk away from it at a reasonable hour, except in absolute emergencies.
c. I speak constantly to my team leaders and ensure they feel supported and are able to meet their commitments. We also talk a lot about our personal lives as I want them to feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work each day.
4. What’s your top tip for creating a thriving workplace culture?
My team scored very high in the recent NSW public sector engagement survey, so I feel I can answer this one with confidence! Our team has been under an incredible workload this year and have had to pivot to deliver in different ways. They remained positive and optimistic because we constantly updated them on the strategy behind the work they were undertaking. We also responded to feedback quickly and provided more resources when needed. And finally, we celebrated and rewarded their professional and personal achievements along the way.
5. How do you bounce back when things don’t go as planned?
Setbacks are often a result of several complex factors which can be out of my control. I think I am realistic about what I can achieve, and I am mindful of the other forces at play, including politics and different workplace cultures. I find there are usually alternative pathways to achieve an outcome, or I need to have the acceptance that an idea doesn't have backing and move on. I know I can achieve a lot on the clear pathways, so I keep moving in those directions!
This conversation was brought to you by Pioneera.
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