You're a Public Administration employee. How can you develop your leadership skills?

1 Assess your strengths and weaknesses

The first step to developing your leadership skills is to identify your current strengths and weaknesses as a public administrator. You can use various tools and methods to assess your competencies, such as self-reflection, feedback, performance reviews, or online tests. For example, you can take the Public Service Leadership Assessment (PSLA), which measures your abilities in six core areas: leading people, leading change, leading results, leading policy, leading engagement, and leading self. By knowing your strengths and weaknesses, you can set realistic and specific goals for your leadership development and focus on the areas that need improvement.

2 Seek learning opportunities

The second step to developing your leadership skills is to seek learning opportunities that can help you expand your knowledge, skills, and perspectives as a public administrator. You can look for formal and informal learning opportunities, such as courses, workshops, webinars, mentoring, coaching, job shadowing, or networking. For example, you can enroll in the Public Administration Leadership Development Program (PALDP), which offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers topics such as strategic thinking, policy analysis, communication, innovation, and ethics. By seeking learning opportunities, you can acquire new insights, tools, and techniques that can enhance your leadership performance and potential.

3 Apply your learning

The third step to developing your leadership skills is to apply your learning to your work and practice your new skills and behaviors. You can look for opportunities to take on new challenges, projects, or roles that can stretch your abilities and test your learning. For example, you can volunteer to lead a cross-functional team, initiate a process improvement, or mentor a junior colleague. By applying your learning, you can demonstrate your leadership capabilities, gain feedback, and learn from your experiences.

4 Reflect on your progress

The fourth step to developing your leadership skills is to reflect on your progress and evaluate your outcomes. You can use various tools and methods to reflect on your actions, such as journals, portfolios, surveys, or interviews. For example, you can use the Public Service Leadership 360 (PSL360), which collects feedback from your peers, supervisors, subordinates, and clients on your leadership competencies. By reflecting on your progress, you can identify your achievements, challenges, and areas for further improvement.

5 Seek support

The fifth step to developing your leadership skills is to seek support from others who can help you along your leadership journey. You can seek support from various sources, such as mentors, coaches, peers, supervisors, or professional associations. For example, you can join the Canadian Association of Public Administration (CAPA), which provides networking, mentoring, and learning opportunities for public administrators. By seeking support, you can benefit from the advice, guidance, and encouragement of others who can share their experiences, insights, and resources with you.

6 Keep learning

The sixth and final step to developing your leadership skills is to keep learning and updating your skills and knowledge as a public administrator. You can keep learning by staying curious, open, and adaptable to the changing needs and expectations of the public sector. You can also keep learning by seeking feedback, exploring new trends and best practices, and engaging in continuous professional development. By keeping learning, you can ensure that your leadership skills remain relevant, effective, and impactful.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?