Introduction
Leadership in public management situations is the process whereby individuals are coordinated and sometimes directed to fulfill objectives. In today’s context it is important to realize that the role of the leader is not restricted to either sex nor is leadership necessarily the intellectual property of a specific age group or social class or restricted to hierarchal situations. Leaders and leadership can vary much with context. Leader style can be characterized as only transactional and sometimes inspirational.
Leaders need to be viewed realistically. Leadership to be effective needs focus and give priority to any situation needing attention. Consequently leaders must necessarily be motivated to harness and to heal cooperation. Ideally leaders have the right stuff to benefit from feedback and continuous leading Leadership in medium and longer term situations should be therefore developmental and responsible.
The Role of Competition
One of the problems society has is selecting and encouraging leaders. Too much is required of the process of competition. Too little is done to develop those men or women suitable for public management. There is often insufficient scope for leaders to demonstrate relevance unless they seize the moment. The problems leaders solve and the value they add to public management means leaders may be required to develop and nurture considerable courage for themselves and others. Consequently there needs to be developed in accountability frameworks the concept that leaders have rights similar to others and may have additional ones due to the uncertainty of their role. Others may escape such close scrutiny.
Accountability frameworks unnecessarily can therefore be counterproductive or irrelevant when it is acknowledged that leaders have rights even when performance is poor. Such rights emphasize the humanity of leaders, which when accepted can lead to a deepening of experience of leaders and the led when making possible improvements in performance in difficult circumstances.
Government should Show the Way Forward
Government has been too reluctant to initiate tailor made schemes for mentoring and personal development and formal training for leaders to evolve. Too much effort has been wasted in leadership development potential in Australia by relying on the sometimes-destructive role of interpersonal competition and often survival of the fittest to resolve leadership situations. A better approach to leadership and development of leaders by Government is needed.
A Further Possibility
If you have a practical situation which needs resolution feel free to call Stephen Kendal-0406377047.
