A personal journey of discovery and change
Throughout the INTOSAI community, it's widely recognised that the most effective force that transforms a SAI is strong SAI Leadership. Without SAI leaders driving positive change, it's impossible for SAIs to sustainably enhance capacities and performance.
Leadership is not a title or a stage. It's a journey.
A journey of growing into the future - that begins with people like you.
I saw the garden as a metaphor for certain aspects of my life. A leader must also tend his garden; he, too, plants seeds and then watches, cultivates, and harvests the results.
Nelson Mandela
A SAI Focus
The main purpose of all IDI endeavours is to support effective SAIs and help them - and the people within them - to grow.
That's the approach IDI takes with the SAI Young Leaders (SYL) initiative. Every SYL in the initiative focuses on implementing a change strategy to bring real and positive shifts in the SAI.
At the same time, this remarkable journey creates real and positive shifts within the individual SYL.
Two cohorts have already taken this journey - just see what they've grown.
The SYL Initiative
To grow strong leaders we use great tools
SYLs follow a syllabus covering four broad clusters - Discover Self, Grow People, Discover Universe and Create Value.
- Enhance emotional intelligence
- Build muscle to thrive in the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) world
- Continually strive for excellence
- Enhance cultural intelligence
- Enhance inclusive behaviour
- Enhanced leadership skills
- Lead by example (ethical, transparent, and accountable behaviour)
- Awareness of Leadership styles
- Facilitation and coaching skills
- Negotiation, influencing and persuasion skills
- Communication and stakeholder engagement
- Growth and development
- Conflict management
- Performance management skills
- Appreciation of role of SAI, its stakeholders and context
- Demonstrate understanding of INTOSAI and its bodies
- Demonstrate understanding of public sector audit
- Explore trends that impact SAIs – climate change, sustainable development, digital transformation, and inequality
- Trace the SAI value chain
- Behave professionally in public interest
- Think future
- Innovate to find fit for purpose solutions
- Strategise for change
- Manage risks
- Deliver intended outputs and facilitate sustainable positive change
- Contribute to equal futures
... and great gardeners
SYLs learn theory and best practices from leadership development practitioners, IDI, INTOSAI and regional resource persons.
They have opportunities to interact with global SAI leaders, leaders from different walks of life and peers, to share experiences and understand real-life examples of theories and concepts.
Then we nurture every shoot ...
As our SYLs chart their growth journey, they often find that, in addition to the changes created with their SAI change strategy, the SYL initiative has unexpected offshoots.
Reflecting on her self discovery journey is Obelia P. Kofi, SYL 2019-20, SAI Liberia.
I started the SYL journey as a very shy and reserved person. I never realised that this had to change in order to be able to implement my change strategy. Everything I learn on my SYL journey transformed me completely. This includes the trainings during the interactions and also the experience gained during the planning and implementation of the change strategy.
Abdourahman Badjie, SAI The Gambia - Developing a Task Management Information System
'My professional perspective has changed so much that I can now relate with my team-mates easier than I could in the past. I cannot believe how much easier it is to set my goals, stay focused on and reach them. I believe most of my colleagues think that I have changed, I contribute to my community and inspire people more than ever.'
Emine, SAI Turkey - Developing a Communication Strategy
My biggest take way from the SYL initiative is my journey to discovering and developing self, which set the foundation for becoming a transformational leader. I have developed skillsets that will enhance my emotional intelligence, expand my organisational awareness and help me to commit and persevere through adversity.
Kelisha Salmon, SAI Jamaica - Measuring SAI Performance - A compass for change
"The SYL journey has been such a valuable experience I would recommend for young leaders with the heart and girth for making a difference in their SAI's. This experience has reaffirmed my purpose and meaning within the SAI global community. I was also promoted during the SYL 2019-2020 tenure, interestingly, not by having accomplished the project deliverables, but by embracing the SYL values (Commitment, integrity, Growing together, respect and innovation)"
Raymond Veratau, SAI Papua New Guinea - Strategy Performance Management
"My project was our first step towards Citizen Engagement in Performance Auditing from our SAI. We now seek input from the Citizen on audit topics and audits that are in progress and looking into how we can use this portal in a more interactive manner."
Rauhath Hussain, SAI Maldives Strategy Citizen Engagement - Making a difference to the lives of the Citizen
'For me, success was being able to get the resources to implement my strategy, as well as being able to produce a draft document as planned. It was not easy due to Covid, but the support from my SAI motivated me to work even harder to improve the PA processes.'
Malebego, SAI Botswana - Strategy Guidelines for Quantitative Data collection and processing in Performance Audit
'Today I am more aware of my leadership role, and I learned to think speak and act as a leader in my SAI'
Erick, SAI Costa Rica - Strategy Use of coaching techniques in the auditing process
Then we celebrate the harvest ...
Our SYLs have enjoyed success in many forms, from forging the way as young, often female leaders, to being on national news programmes and winning awards!
41
SAI Young Leaders graduated the programme
83%
Women SYL graduates
41
Innovative and future oriented SAI change strategies implemented
Positive change in the SAI
Change strategy ranged from ISSAI Implementation strategies, communication strategies, digital solutions using data analytics, value chain reporting, strengthening follow up mechanisms etc.
Innovations introduced by SYLs and IDI together
SYL Leadership Link
SYL Community Values
SYL Integrated Plan
EI Assessments and Coaching
SYL Communication and Sustainability Plan
... and encourage new growth
Becoming a SAI Young Leader takes commitment and courage and a willingness to step out on a new growth journey – not just from the individual SYL, but from their SAI as well.
We'll be announcing the new cohort soon. If you'd like to take part contact IDI's SYL team on [email protected].