Defence

Defence Values

A credit to the team

By Harry Baxter

Few would argue that our Australian Defence Force has a strong values tradition, and a quick skim through the nation's pages of military history would powerfully demonstrate those values in action.

Most apparent among them, perhaps, teamwork. Can you think of a successful operation the ADF has conducted that hasn't required the best that teamwork has to offer? In the planning and preparation phases? Amongst the deployed forces? Across the command structure? Even in the apparently more simple elements of supply chains behind "the lines"?

No surprise, then, that teamwork features as one of the Defence Values (referred to as the PLICIT values).

While it is true that the bureaucratic environment away from the battlefield presents new challenges for Defence, the need for teamwork remains a constant.

Much has been made of the increasingly complex and competitive domains that Defence is confronted by, particularly in areas like providing advice to Ministers, and engaging in whole-of-Government activity. One of the vital cogs in this new machinery is, without doubt, a practical and broad-minded view of effective teamwork.

The recently issued Public Service Commission publication entitled "Working Together" might just as well have been called "An Ode to Teamwork". Likewise with Defence's own guidance for officials working on inter-departmental committees, or our own guidelines on the consultation processes with respect to drafting Cabinet submissions (featured on page 31 of this magazine).

Teamwork can occur at all levels and in a vast array of different contexts. For those who demand to see leaders "walking the talk", the kind of teamwork demonstrated in the new relationships between Lieutenant General Hurley's Capability Development Group, and Dr Gumley's Defence Materiel Organisation are a good start point. The collaborative effort from the senior leaders involved, but also throughout these organisations, has received high praise over the last 18 months.

At the recent press conference to announce the new ADF leadership appointments, the CDF-designate, Air Marshal Houston, was quick to focus on collaboration and teamwork 'from the top'.

"The Prime Minister has announced a very strong team," Air Marshal Houston said, "a team that has very strong single service credentials, [and] most importantly in the modern environment, a team that has a very strong background in joint operations.

"Every single member of the team has held an important appointment in the joint arena and I think together, we bring a lot of expertise and a lot of experience to the challenging job of leading the Australian Defence Force into the next three years."

Teamwork could also be the label applied to a range of Defence activity described in a jargon-ful way as the 'civil-military interface'. Recent successes on operations, in relief and aid activities and even in complex and time-pressured Budget development processes are all fitting tributes to teamwork at many different levels across Defence.

Significantly, the emphasis on teamwork should not go so far as to diminish personal accountability, or to deny the value of quality work produced with little or no direct supervision. In this sense teamwork is perhaps best understood as a value - or mindset - and not as an absolute requirement.

Consultative approaches should inform, but not overshadow, a final decision. Teamwork should enhance, not deter or over-complicate, the drive to achieve high quality outcomes.

If you've never really thought much about teamwork, or if you're wondering what all the fuss is about, then ponder this simple definition:

Working together with respect, trust, and a sense of collective purpose.

That's just one sentence, but within it are four compelling reasons to think further on the opportunities that teamwork provides.

I put a sign on the wall of a previous office that read "Great things can be achieved when you don't mind who takes the credit". For some that sign proved beyond doubt that coming to my office was not something they wanted to do again. For others still that sign might have just sown a seed, worthy of further reflection. For me, that sign captures the essence of teamwork.

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