Mind the Gap: Coaching the Public Sector’s Next Generation of Leaders

My significant experience working with public sector organisations, has evidenced that technical expertise is often the primary driver for internal promotions. Many professionals rise through the organisational hierarchy based on their extensive subject matter knowledge, often finding themselves in leadership positions without the necessary skills to guide, inspire, and manage teams effectively. This widespread practice has inadvertently created a leadership gap, where managerial and strategic competencies are lacking at critical levels.

The Leadership Gap: A Systemic Issue

The leadership gap in the public sector is not an isolated issue; it’s a systemic challenge driven by outdated promotion criteria that often prioritise tenure, experience, and technical skills over leadership potential. While technical skills are important, leadership requires a different set of competencies, including emotional intelligence, strategic vision, and the ability to motivate and manage people.

Without these skills and support, newly promoted leaders may struggle with decision-making, conflict resolution, and team engagement, leading to inefficiencies, low morale, and stagnation within organisations. A technically proficient individual who excels in their domain might not necessarily possess the skills needed to lead a diverse team or drive innovation in complex environments.

A Coaching Approach to Leadership Development

To bridge the leadership gap, public sector organisations can integrate coaching as a key strategy in leadership development. Coaching offers a structured and supportive environment where individuals can build self-awareness, enhance interpersonal skills, and develop the confidence needed to lead effectively. Here’s how coaching can be embedded into the promotion and development process:

• Coaching-Based Leadership Assessments–Before promoting individuals, organisations can incorporate coaching-style evaluations to identify leadership potential and areas for growth. These assessments provide valuable insights into an individual’s readiness and development needs.

• Personalised Leadership Coaching Programs–Employees with strong technical skills can benefit from access to one-on-one and group coaching sessions that help nurture their leadership capabilities. Ongoing coaching provides support as they navigate real-world challenges and refine their leadership approach.

• Creating Dual Career Paths with Coaching Support–Not all experts aspire to leadership positions, and it’s important to provide options that align with individual strengths and interests. Establishing dual career tracks—one for technical expertise and another for leadership ensures that leadership roles are filled by those best suited for them, while coaching helps employees make informed career decisions.

• Encouraging Continuous Feedback Through Coaching Conversations–Traditional performance reviews can evolve into coaching conversations, where feedback is continuous, constructive, and focused on growth. This approach fosters an organisational culture of learning and development.

• Prioritising Interpersonal Skills Through Coaching–Communication, adaptability, and conflict resolution can be strengthened through coaching programmes that incorporate real-world scenarios and role-playing exercises. Coaching provides an effective way to internalise these skills beyond what traditional training methods typically achieve.

The Path Forward

Addressing the leadership gap in the public sector involves fostering a culture that recognises coaching as a key element of professional growth. Integrating coaching methodologies into leadership development can support a more balanced approach, where promotions are guided by leadership readiness in addition to technical expertise.

Leadership capabilities can be strengthened through intentional coaching and mentorship. By adopting a coaching culture, public sector organisations may enhance resilience, adaptability, and overall performance, ultimately benefiting the institutions and communities they serve.

Kudos Leadership Solutions - Leadership Launchpad Programme

For individuals and organisations looking to take a proactive approach to leadership development, the Kudos Leadership Launchpad Programme offers a structured, coaching-driven pathway to equip aspiring and new leaders with the skills and confidence needed to succeed. This programme blends expert coaching, real-world leadership scenarios, and ongoing mentorship to ensure individuals are fully prepared to lead with impact. Investing in leadership coaching today will cultivate the strong and capable leaders of tomorrow.

For more information on the Leadership Launchpad Programme and other available programmes, please contact me: hello@kudosleadershipsolutions.com