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Leadership & Management

Leadership in Public Sector Organisations

Public sector leaders work with political direction, public accountability, tight budgets and complex stakeholder expectations. This course develops leadership skills for government and public bodies: translating policy into delivery, leading under scrutiny, managing performance in a public service culture, collaborating across agencies and driving improvement for citizens.

5 days Classroom or live online English
Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants
Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF
Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Public leadership differs from private-sector management in important ways. You will learn approaches that work within public sector rules and values.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

  • Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
  • Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
  • Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.
Course methodology

How you will learn.

Public sector case studies, stakeholder simulations, policy-to-delivery workshops and peer learning.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the context and values of public leadership
  • Translate policy objectives into delivery plans
  • Lead with accountability and transparency
  • Manage performance in public organisations
  • Collaborate across agencies and with partners
  • Drive service improvement for citizens
Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

  • Public sector managers and directors
  • Government department heads
  • Municipal and agency leaders
  • Senior officers in public bodies
  • Future public service leaders
Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

  • Public value leadership
  • Policy implementation
  • Stakeholder management
  • Performance management
  • Collaborative leadership
Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Public Leadership Context

  1. 09:00–10:08Public value and accountability
  2. 10:08–11:00Political and administrative interface
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Political and administrative interface (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Ethics in public service
  6. 12:53–14:00Exercise: stakeholder landscape

Day 2From Policy to Delivery

  1. 09:00–10:08Implementation planning
  2. 10:08–11:00Resources and constraints
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Resources and constraints (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Delivery risks
  6. 12:53–14:00Workshop: delivery plan

Day 3Performance and People

  1. 09:00–10:08Public sector performance frameworks
  2. 10:08–11:00Motivating public servants
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Motivating public servants (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Managing under-performance
  6. 12:53–14:00Case study

Day 4Working Across Boundaries

  1. 09:00–10:08Inter-agency collaboration
  2. 10:08–11:00Partnerships with private and non-profit sectors
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Partnerships with private and non-profit sectors (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Citizen engagement
  6. 12:53–14:00Simulation

Day 5Improving Services

  1. 09:00–10:08Innovation in government
  2. 10:08–11:00Measuring outcomes
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Measuring outcomes (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Leading change
  6. 12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Cape Town 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 30 Nov - 4 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 30 Nov - 4 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Barcelona 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 1 Mar - 5 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Mar - 5 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 22 Mar - 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Mar - 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Barcelona 26 Apr - 30 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 26 Apr - 30 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Vienna 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 28 Jun - 2 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 28 Jun - 2 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 13 Sept - 17 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Sept - 17 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Vienna 29 Nov - 3 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 29 Nov - 3 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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