Career transition support for Kevin Rudd

The very sudden recent change in the Prime Minister in Australia took many by surprise - the public, media, the Coalition, the G20, Julia Gillard - and of course Kevin Rudd and his family.

The change was described in some circles as a "political assassination" - which sometimes seems to be the point of politics - but normally comes from one's opponents - not friendly fire from one's own party! This is particularly so when one considers that Mr Rudd was the leader who brought down a Coalition government after 11 years in office, said "sorry" to the Stolen Generation of Aborigines, steered Australia through the GFC and until six months ago, was riding high in the popularity stakes.

So how does a person deal with such a sudden change - particularly when it is so public, so humiliating and analysed from every angle? Former Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said in a media piece that someone "should give this poor bastard a hug". President Barack Obama was reported as saying he would have felt sorry for Kevin Rudd (and a subsequent media report provides further insight).  A couple of years ago, former Czech President Vaclav Havel was moved to write a play, "Leaving", about  a "deposed leader coming to terms with melancholic void after losing the status inseparable from his sense of himself". Given the view that the Australian people elected Mr Rudd (not strictly correct but let's work with it), these same people also seem to have a view as to how he should be treated now.

Comparison with corporate redundancies

Mr Rudd's "resignation" from the role of Prime Minister is in some ways similar to what happens when there is sudden notification of a termination of a role through redundancy in the corporate world. Some differences though are that:

• in politics,  the ALP's own Fair Work legislation doesn't seem to apply when the unions and factions decide they want a change in Prime Minister so as to win an impending election

• there was not likely to have been a career transition/outplacement support person in attendance at the time nor thereafter to assist Mr Rudd through the transition from Prime Minister to the Honourable Member for Griffith

• most corporate redundancies are not normally played out through Twitter (see the early feed on the #spill hash tag although that has also been "polluted" with the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico) , blogs, and  numerous media conferences and analyses on the day!

Actions in the first week after the "event"

So, in an ideal world, as a professional career transition and outplacement consultant, what would I advise or comment on these events, remembering that Mr Rudd is human with feelings and emotions, a fellow Australian and compared to CEOs in industry, has not been paid a fortune for the commensurate responsibility of being Prime Minister:

• Whilst I understand that Therese Rein, Mr Rudd's very supportive wife, is a trained psychologist and will understand the emotions here, she is also emotionally involved as we were able to see on her attempt to put on a very stoic face in the public media conferences.  Having an impartial and trained support person on hand would have been preferable - although that could be hard to find in Australia with Mr Rudd's public profile.

• I consider that Mr Rudd has done many things right in the succeeding week - from expressing the tears, articulating his achievements, relying on the support of a loving family, moving from the Lodge back to his home in Brisbane and now taking a well earned holiday.

• I do question whether his public commitment to re contest his seat of Griffith at the impending election was made in haste without giving due consideration to his longer term strategy and the  implications thereof.  Whether being maybe a senior minister in a future elected Gillard government as has been promised would have the same attraction as being the Prime Minister is unknown.  There is also precedent in Australia in a Prime Minister returning to the role (Robert Menzies in the 1940s) although at this stage that may not be likely given the perception that the ALP factions and the unions are in control and Mr Rudd has had his opportunity.  That being said, former PM John Howard was described as "Lazarus with a triple bypass" - albeit as Opposition Leader - when he had 3 periods as the leader of the Liberal Party.

• Putting the politics aside (which may be seen as naive), new PM Julia Gillard's decision not to offer Mr Rudd  a role as a senior minister at this stage may actually be the best thing that she could have done for him.  He has effectively been allowed to take some time back in the comfort of his home, family and own electorate to reflect on the past four very busy, fully engaged years and contemplate his future options.

• That all being said, I do not consider anyone would begrudge Mr Rudd changing his mind at a later stage if politics and a senior minister's role if the ALP Government is re-elected did not in the fullness of time have the same appeal as being Prime Minister.

Career Support for the future

If Kevin Rudd was my client, how would I facilitate his career support at this stage?  My counsel would be as follows:

• It is up to him what he does next.  It would not be up to me, the ALP, the Australian people or the media to dictate what he does.  I would help facilitate Mr Rudd to decide his future taking into account his values and goals and the wider interests of his family.

• My role would be as a trusted confidante, a facilitator of options, a sounding board, a venting target and  a strategic thinker - not an adviser.  

• I would use the concepts of the grief process so well articulated by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

• I would get him to focus on his considerable achievements - as a person, a husband, a father and a Prime Minister.  Having read David Marr's recent article on Mr Rudd, I would suggest that these considerable achievements be viewed through the perspective of  what appears to have been  a hard early life, a prodigious work ethic and an innate intelligence.

• At the same time, there appear to be some lessons from what has led to the change of PM.  I would in time address aspects such as engaging all stakeholders, the importance of EQ (Emotional Intelligence) and also staying true to one's values - even it means losing the job of PM.

• I would suggest that he takes a long term view and recognise that he has much to give over what could be 30 years or more.  Former PM's Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser were similar ages to Mr Rudd when they became former PM's- albeit through the loss of the role at an election. They both went on to to make significant contributions after their term as PM had ended - and I envisage Kevin Rudd could do the same.  

• I would encourage him to leverage off his global relationships and networks - in whatever he chooses to do.

• I would cover the possibility of retirement as that could be an option particularly given the Rudd family appears to be financially comfortable - although as a Certified Retirement Coach having worked with many people who have contemplated this option at Mr Rudd's relatively young age, I would not envisage this to be an attractive proposition for Mr Rudd.  Further details on the issues to consider can be found here.

• And in time, I would encourage a perspective that notwithstanding these events, no one can take away from him that he is one of only 27 people now who have been PM of this great country.  Furthermore, I would get him to continue to focus on the achievements which he has already done - and not on errors of judgment or of politics or how he applied his unique personality. He is who he is and he did what he thought best - that's all that matters.  

In conclusion, it will take time to work through the transition period for Mr Rudd after this very sudden change event.  He is a person who chose to not only serve the Australian people but to to do it in the glare of publicity, both positive and negative.  His transition period may vacillate between pleasurable and painful - which means he is as normal as  most other people who lose their job involuntarily. I wish him all the best and whether I agree or disagree with his politics, I  thank him for serving our country.

PB

Copyright: Peter Black 2010