Well, two small islands…
Last week I ended up squeezing two events into one day, and the experience was quite telling – politically, economically, and from a professional lens around leadership, communication and messaging.
The first was the inaugural Island of Longevity conference. It was a compelling, future-facing forum full of people who genuinely want to shape a better world and feel they can make a difference here in Jersey. Our island offers a rare opportunity to zoom out and see the whole picture.
There was a real clarity of purpose in the air. We faced the ‘tsunami’ of declining birthrates and an ageing population, and heard both the economic fact-check and potential responses. The speakers presented information with a shared sense of urgency, then delivered a call to arms. It wasn’t just theoretical – the room felt galvanised. People came away with a clearer sense of how they could, and might actually want to, help steer the ship.
Then came my first Jersey Chamber of Commerce lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed the networking and the rich history behind one of the oldest Chambers in the world. This time the theme was collaboration between Jersey and Guernsey, with both Chief Ministers – the two Lyndons – sharing the stage. It was civil, affable, and refreshingly human. A fireside chat, a few jokes about the ferry fiasco, some mutual congratulation.
But I couldn’t help feeling it lacked energy. No rallying cry. No urgency. No sense of a vision for what needs to happen next. A question about the public spat between our two economic ministers was answered – but the elephant in the room, the tough stuff around the ageing population and the future of work, was sidestepped. Retirement, as we know it, is over if we are to survive economically. That’s hard to hear, but necessary. Here, we needed a dose of Longevity realism.
That contrast really made me reflect. In the morning, we had future vision, shared values, and a narrative people could buy into. In the afternoon, we had warm words, continuity, and a sense of steady-as-she-goes. There is value in both – but the moment might have called for more.
I have enormous admiration for our politicians. They face relentless public criticism and still step forward to serve. There were excellent moments, too. Deputy Lyndon Trott’s nod to quiet diplomacy – solving things over tea instead of headlines – was deeply welcome. Political bickering in the media does nothing but confuse and anger voters. Sometimes, the calmer hand at the tiller is a good thing.
But great leadership communication needs more. Not just competence or calm, but a vision. A story. A reason to believe. Anchored in facts, yes – but driven by the courage to say something new, and the skill to connect people to it. A call to action, so people actually feel willing and inspired to help.
The morning gave us that. The lunch, while enjoyable, didn’t. One event inspired. The other consoled. Both have their place – but if we’re serious about shaping the future, we’re going to need more than civility. We need courage, clarity, and yes, a little risk-taking and disruption.
