The New Public Leadership Challenge

This book offers a new insight into leadership in the public sector:It describes public leadership as a form of collective leadership in which leaders from a range of public, private and voluntary organizations share a common aim in improving the life of communities. It examines the current focus on public service reform and highlights the impact that performance targets have had on leadership.The importance of the role of the individual leader is acknowledged, but it argues that this role is not to provide the answers but to ask intelligent questions in tackling wicked issues that undermine well being. The book explores the experience of reform across the sector and sets some tough challenges for government, public institutions and their leaders.It will be of benefit to all who are interested in what the future holds for public services and prompts a different way of thinking about leadership.