Surviving Senate Estimates without losing your mind
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The end of October marks the close of another round of Senate Estimates – and no doubt, many public servants are breathing a quiet sigh of relief.
Though it only comes around a few times a year, it’s a period that brings intense pressure for those fronting the hearings and the teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare them.
With another round of estimate hearings scheduled for early December, public servants aren’t out of the woods just yet. But rather than struggling through it, executive coach Kim Vella says it can be a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and your team.
“Of all the stressful periods in the public service, Senate Estimates is right up there. There’s a huge amount of work that goes into preparing for it and supporting the senior executive who attends it. This support usually falls on the executive layer who operate a bit like air traffic controllers: not flying the plane but coordinating everything around it,” she explains.
“At face value, it’s just Senate Estimates. But at a deeper level, it can be quite a revealing process. It reveals what senators want and the associated information about the department. However it also reveals something that people don’t often tune into, which is there to be seen if they want to look.”
Kim says these hidden revelations can include:
- Latent challenges in team culture
- Your default setting under pressure
- Feelings of self-doubt or imposter syndrome
If these patterns go unchecked, they may continue to weaken team dynamics and individual confidence.
“I once coached a senior executive who had presented at Senate Estimates for years. Before coaching, she’d always felt extremely nervous the night before, on the way to the hearing, and even more so when it was her turn to speak. By the time she reached out to me, she was tired of the lasting impact the hearings were having on her wellbeing. Fortunately, after executive coaching, she said she was only nervous right before speaking and it quickly subsided,” says Kim.
“The nerves, the pressure, and the lasting effects this person felt are experiences shared by many in similar roles. It is a highly reactive and stressful time where the bulk of the work falls on just a few people, and it really can bring out the best and worst in you and your team.”
For those willing to approach it thoughtfully, Kim recommends three strategies to help turn the Senate Estimates process into an opportunity for growth:
- Intentionally move from self-doubt to stewardship. Senate Estimates can turn you into a frantic mess of self-doubt where you risk making the wrong decisions and exhausting everyone around you. Or, you can see it as a great stewardship moment where you stay present and ask your team to think about the public value they’re creating – both in preparing the right information and supporting the one who attends the hearing. When it comes to working through your own self-doubt, it can help to remember that Senate Estimates is not about you. It’s about the information. You simply need to share it.
- Look for even one small way to improve it. After every hearing, don’t just breathe a sigh of relief and move on. Look at how things were done and consider if they could have been done better. This includes how well you were prepared, how efficiently everyone worked, and how you acted in the room. This simple exercise could make the next Senate Estimates far easier.
- Take micro breaks. Research shows that taking micro breaks lasting between eight seconds and 10 minutes preserves high energy levels and alleviates tiredness. During stressful periods like Senate Estimates, it’s easy to think you’re too busy for breaks. You become hyper-alert, hyper-available and hyper-busy. However, this actually causes a drop in performance, clear thinking, decision-making, and emotional regulation. So whether it’s a minute of deep breaths and a few stretches, or a quick walk outside to recharge, don’t forget to take breaks.
“Senate Estimates are stressful, but the pressure doesn’t have to take over you or your team,” reminds Kim.
“By staying focussed on purpose rather than fear, you can keep yourself and the group steady and prevent stress from spreading. Leading calmly in those moments helps everyone work better and feel more in control.
“It’s also about looking after yourself. If you pace your energy and avoid overdoing it, you can use Senate Estimates as a chance to improve how you work while strengthening your team and delivering real public value.”
To learn more about executive coaching and workshops for public sector professionals, visit Kim Vella Coaching.
