The public sector is an organization run by the government and is funded by the tax payer’s money.
This may include anything from schools, hospitals, government agencies and local councils.
The public sector is established to serve the public interest which generally refers to taking care of the welfare and well-being of the general public.
When one is working or serving in the public sector, it provides the opportunity for them to work closely with and give back to the people in their community or to a society as a whole to make a positive change in the lives of others.
Serving the public interest is a way to make a positive impact to people’s lives and create a better society and here are some of the most important skills for those involved in this sector.
Good communication skills
A good communication skill encompassed both written and oral skills, which is an important skill needed to influence others.
Dr Hans Schlappa, a programme director of MSc Leadership and Management in Public Services at the Hertfordshire Business School noted that verbal skills are essential because, while people read reports, actual decisions are made through discourse in meetings, whether on a one-to-one basis or in large committees.
Apart from that, it was also noted that the ability to process complex information and express it in one’s own interpretation in a clear and coherent way is also a skill needed to be successful in this sector.
Teamworking and leadership skills
When one is involved in serving the public sector, one will be working with different people every day.
And whether it is to serve or work alongside those people, one will need to have skills such as understanding the perspective of others, building relationships and influencing and negotiating by working with others.
Apart from that, leading without controlling others is a key skill when serving the public interest as a leader needs to place one’s actions within a strategic framework and helps those who are involved understand the rationale for the direction.
Creativity, flexibility and organizational skills
In serving the public interest, one will be dealing with different problems and so the ability to adapt to change and think creatively around problems is vital.
In doing so, one needs to explore the root cause of problems, use their critical analysis skills to understand complex issue and later offer and implement solutions to the problem.
