Published on Monday, 2 May 2022 at 3:33:00 PM
In my opinion...
Council CEO Ingrid Stonhill
There is nothing like moving into a new job and a new town to heighten your senses. I really relish that small window of opportunity you get to see everything through fresh eyes, before settling into everyday life and simply not noticing as much anymore.
Fresh eyes is a real thing and it’s a management tool, recognising the importance a fresh perspective can bring to solving a problem or creating a more effective way of doing things. Of course, that can mean change — oh dear, the C word! Change is tough for a lot of people as it means having to tackle new things, which can cause fear. Change requires effort, and uncomfortable feelings, to adapt. For many, human nature means we’ll resist and have a good old-fashioned whinge about change, rather than make the change.
Add the “C” word to a local government setting and you immediately have a double whammy, as local council is an easy target. Complaining about council services, and what is perceived as a lack of, is also a real thing, and here in Katherine our council is, for some people, responsible for everything in their lives.
An average person is said to complain nearly 15-30 times a day! Hence, as much as we might want to believe that complaining is something that only others are guilty of, the truth is that we are all complainers, but we do so for many different reasons. I tend to agree with the train of thought that nothing good happens when people only complain. No one likes listening to someone unload their negative thoughts on to us.
For a fresh perspective I am asking Katherine residents to change their approach to us at Council and help us find solutions for the future of our town. What you can do if you don’t like something, is change it. And if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. We are having community consultations that give you the opportunity to share with us what you would like to see us at council change in the future. What’s your vision for Katherine? Try on some fresh eyes to tell us a more effective way to do things. We would be glad to hear your thoughts, as we are looking for change!
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