What kind of skills and experience do councillors need?

Diverse groups tend to make better informed decisions, so it is important that councils not only represent the communities they serve, but also have a wide range of skills and experience. That's where you come in.

The knowledge and experience you have picked up through your personal and professional life are important. While you don't need any special or formal qualifications to be a councillor, having or being able to develop the following skills, knowledge and attributes will help you in your role:

• communication skills
  These include listening and interpersonal skills, public speaking skills, the ability to accept alternative points of view as well as the ability to negotiate, mediate and resolve conflict
• problem solving and analytical skills
  This includes being able to get to the bottom of an issue and to think of different ways to resolve it, including advantages and disadvantages of each
• team working
  Including being able to work with others in meetings and on committees and being able to complete any tasks on time that you agree to do