Public sector leaders manage one-third of the global workforce and oversee around a quarter of global GDP, yet research on what makes them successful is scarce, say Senior Partner Julia Klier and coauthors. To close this knowledge gap, McKinsey conducted a global survey and asked leaders about what sets the public sector apart from other sectors and how that affects leadership. Having to navigate ever-changing political dynamics came out on top. Respondents also pointed to their limited influence on resourcing, asymmetric incentives, and persistent external scrutiny.
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A horizontal bar chart displays the results of a survey asking respondents what differentiates leadership in the public sector from other sectors. Four factors are listed, each with a corresponding percentage of respondents who cited that factor. “Changing political dynamics” is cited by 68% of respondents, the highest percentage among the 4 options. “Limited influence on resourcing” is cited by 58% of respondents, followed by “asymmetric incentives” at 37%, and “constant external scrutiny” at 31%, the lowest percentage among the 4 options.
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Source: Public Sector Leadership Excellence Survey, McKinsey 2025, n = 753.
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To read the article, see “Honing leadership excellence in the public sector,” April 4, 2025.