3 Key Meta-Skills for Effective Leadership in the Public Sector

The findings of recent research into the qualities of good leadership in the public sector reveal that investing in the development of meta-skills benefits staff and organizations, and it also improves the quality of policies and services delivered to the public. There are a number of transferable, high-order abilities that help leaders to succeed in their work but three of these skills are particularly useful when applied to the pressing issues currently facing public sector leaders. Developing a systems approach, adopting an enabling mindset and taking a dialogical stance in interaction can help leaders to handle controversial conflicts of interest, motivate employees to maintain public trust and strategically steward the minefield of social media. People have very high expectations when it comes to public sector workers but in a people-centered field where commitment to social responsibility is vital, these crucial meta skills can help federal leaders to serve the public interest with integrity.

Developing A Systems Approach to Deal with Conflicts of Interest

In a position of social responsibility, leaders that develop a systems approach that extends beyond one single organization are in a better position to bring together siloed sectors and identify potentially harmful bureaucratization that can hamper progress and allow issues such as potential conflicts of interest to arise. When public officials are involved in competing private interests then this can have a detrimental impact on their judgement and performance of their duties. If conflicts of interest are not openly investigated and managed effectively in the public sector, they can undermine integrity and could result in the policy-making process being undermined by private interests.  With a more holistic view of individual government sectors, public sector leaders can help to achieve collaborative governance in which transparency is valued and individuals and organizations are held accountable to the public.

Nurturing Emotional Intelligence to Motivate Employees

Emotional intelligence is a crucial meta skill for public service leaders and those who take the time to develop self-awareness, nurture empathy and adopt an enabling mindset are able to better understand the needs of their employees and motivate them in their task of serving the public good. When leaders prioritize inclusion and accessibility, even amidst struggles, they create an environment that keeps employees both happy and motivated. As leaders face the aftermath of a new administration and disruptions in the workplace brought about by technological innovation, highly tuned social skills become even more important for team building and managing work relationships.

Taking a Dialogical Position for Productive Media Engagement

One of the key meta skills necessary for success in the public sector is the ability to communicate clearly and unambiguously in order to promote transparency and build trust with constituents. The work of federal leaders is under scrutiny from the public and when they need to inform people of their plans, policies and actions, they should appreciate the value of traditional media. However, as public sector leaders were told by a Federal Advisor over ten years ago, it’s also in their best interests to also ‘befriend the beast’ of social media. It's now expected for leaders in the public sector to have a voice on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, where the meta skill of dialogical positioning can serve them well. As well as posting engaging content and participating in open debate with other users, they need to be able to step back and listen to conflicting arguments and evaluate a range of different opinions in order to address public needs most effectively.

Leaders in the public sector are under close scrutiny and have a duty to act with integrity and transparency in order to best serve their constituents as well as manage their employees and oversee the organizations for which they are responsible. When they hone skills in interpersonal management, transparent communication and holistic whole systems management, they are better able to engage productively with the public, motivate their employees and monitor individual departments to avoid contentious issues. In simple terms, the development of these meta skills helps to address the challenges of working in the public sector and enhances effective federal leadership.

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Nina S. Blake is a writer with a research journalism background, who is always eager to explore new niches and tackle diverse subjects.