Do you have what it takes to thrive as a leader in the political arena?

What would you do if faced with a request that challenges your values—or even conflicts with the law?

New workplace, new perspective

My client, a seasoned private-sector leader, recently transitioned into a public-sector role. He spent time understanding the organisation, its culture, and his team. Alongside his objectives, he must support politicians by providing relevant information. However, he noticed a shift: less focus on efficiency and more on election cycles.
In our conversations, we reflect on the high standards and strong values he has upheld throughout his career.

Leadership in a new culture

Keen to drive improvement, my client identified areas for change but struggled to align across functional teams. Meetings felt unproductive, inefficiencies persisted, and missing annual objectives seemed likely. These challenges made him question his fit for the role.
Through our discussions, he realised he doesn’t need to adapt fully to this culture. Instead, he must lead by living his values and vision, challenging the status quo, and seeking political support for meaningful change. This clarity brought him relief and renewed focus.

An ethical balancing act

Soon after, my client faced an ethical challenge: a politician requested data analysis for a re-election campaign. The task was resource-intensive, likely ineffective, and violated GDPR by exposing sensitive citizen data.
This presented a conflict: how could he serve the politician’s needs while upholding his legal and ethical obligations?

Drawing on his core values, my client chose to push back tactfully. He expressed his concerns about the proposal’s direction and potential implications. At the same time, he offered to collaborate on alternative approaches for a more meaningful and legally compliant analysis.
This approach allowed him to uphold his standards while still fostering a constructive partnership.

Leadership with integrity and success

A year later, my client thrives in his role. By staying true to his values, he has earned respect and learned to navigate public-sector complexities with success.

In line with ICF ethical standards, this post has been reviewed and commented on by my client and is shared with his permission, fully respecting his confidentiality.

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR PERSONAL REFLECTION

1. Are the leadership skills required in the private and public sectors truly different, or are they fundamentally the same?

Think about a specific instance when you faced frustration or setbacks in your professional role.

2. What strategies did you employ to overcome them, and how did they contribute to your growth or perspective?

Think about a time when you encountered an ethical conflict or challenge.

3. How did you navigate the situation, and in what ways did it influence your values, decision-making process, or approach to leadership?

I would love to hear from you to explore how I can support you in your reflections and choices in your professional and personal life.

Feel free to contact me or book a 30-minute slot for an informal chat on how we can build a partnership to support your performance here.