SHARJAH // The former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard told an international audience that a leader has to have a high sense of self and transcend personal issues that might arise whenever he or she is criticised by his or her people or followers on social media.
Addressing the third session of the International Government Communication Forum, Ms Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister, said that digital communication platforms may have many disadvantages, “but we have to rise above them and deal with them positively to benefit from them and achieve our greater goals”.
Ms Gillardshared her experience in the successful management of Australia’s economy during the global financial crisis, highlighting the important role that government communication continues to play in shaping public opinion and in addressing key social and economic issues of a country.
“Social media plays a major role in bridging the gap between the government and the public. At the same time, press conferences, interactive forums and talk shows can deepen the dialogue and take communication to the next level through debating crucial issues that affect the lives of the people in order to bring about the desired change,” she said.
“A leader should trust his people and seek to conduct a responsible, serious dialogue with them on sensitive matters. He/She should be able to communicate with honesty, transparency and integrity.
“If the leader once made promises and could not fulfil them, he/she should have the courage to explain to his people the circumstances that made these promises impossible to achieve.”
The final day of IGCF 2015 will commence with a speech by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of Liberia abd this year’s guest of honour.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
