Leadership as a Key Requirement for Being an Effective Public Sector Manager: Evolution of the Concept of “Good Public Sector Leader” Over Time

Abstract

The concept of leadership has been extensively studied over the last decades and it has taken today a significant importance in our society than ever before. Many different definitions and theories of leadership have been proposed by diverse researchers. According to Stogdill (1950), leadership is a process of influencing the achievement of goals. Leadership can also be described as an art in which people are mobilized for the shared aspirations (Kouzes and Posner, 1995). Leadership is understood to be a key requirement for being an effective public sector manager, and it has shaped what constitutes a “good public sector leader” over time by giving rise to different types of leaders. The present article discusses the evolution of the concept of leadership over time and its impact in public service management.