It’s not often that former political leaders reflect publicly on the skills and attributes needed to be successful in political life. Gareth Evans is an example of someone who has had a successful political and post-political career and made a significant contribution to government and public policy.

In this article, the former Foreign Minister has identified 10 attributes for a successful political leader – some are obvious but important, and others are more counter intuitive. A reminder for example of the importance of organisational and time management skills. Also often under-recognised is the importance of resilience in political leadership. Personal resilience and the ability bounce back from setbacks are important for long term political leadership.

The criteria set are perhaps a checklist for voters in assessing candidates at future elections – but also an opportunity for aspiring and current Members of Parliaments to reflect on these insights. https://theconversation.com/gareth-evans-how-to-be-a-successful-political-leader-125233