By Jun Kit Man, Digital Media Manager
In the latest episode of "In Conversation With", we delve into the life and career of Paul Wylie, the Strategic Director of Policy at the Government of Jersey. The show continues to explore the lives and careers of influential civil servants in public service, and Wylie's journey is no exception.
Paul Wylie, a seasoned civil servant, has held numerous roles throughout his career. From serving as Private Secretary to three different Home Secretaries to being the Director of Immigration Enforcement for London and the South of England, Wylie's experience is as diverse as it is extensive. His current role in the Government of Jersey sees him leveraging his wealth of experience to shape policy in a self-governing Crown Dependency.
The theme of our conversation with Wylie was learning from failure, a topic he approached with candour and insight. "In the main, we should see failure as learning points that you then adapt and try something different," he shared. This perspective is not only refreshing but also essential in today's fast-paced and ever-changing world.
Wylie emphasized the importance of creating a culture that allows for failure, a sentiment that resonates deeply in the public sector. "We actually want to create a culture in the sector where people can be allowed to fail," he said. "Not just, 'Oh, you've failed. And now we'll pick up the pieces.'"
He also highlighted the need for organizations to celebrate failure and innovation, even if it's not part of the wider culture. "To make steps to celebrate failure and innovation within an individual team, even if it's not in the wider culture of the organization? Thinking about a team being a living demonstrator that might influence wider culture," he suggested.
But how can we apply these insights immediately? Wylie offered some practical advice. "Be incredibly mindful of the first example of when [failure] does happen," he advised. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. And really do mean that and just say it and then be how can we bring it? How can we learn from this? How can we solve this particular immediate issue and make sure we don’t repeat it in the future."
Wylie's approach to failure is not just about learning from mistakes but also about fostering an environment that encourages innovation and forward-thinking. It's about stepping outside of our comfort zones and doing things differently. As he put it, "This is part of resilience, and being innovative and being a forward thinker and being somebody who's committed to doing things differently."
In a world where success is often celebrated, and failure is hidden away, Wylie's perspective is a breath of fresh air. His insights serve as a reminder that failure is not the end but rather a stepping stone to success. It's a lesson we can all learn from, whether we're in the public sector or not.
