Leadership & Public Service
Discussion Questions

What a Leader Does
1. What are the goals of leaders in public service? How do they differ from the goals of those in the private sector?

2. What can a leader in public service contribute to "the common good"? How can a leader in public service detract from the common good?

3. How can leaders in public service work with others (the media, the public at large, the private sector) to accomplish their goals?

4. What ethics or guidelines should leaders in public service follow? What are the consequences when a leader violates the public trust?

Who a Leader Is
5. What particular professional and personal qualities are valued in leaders in the public realm? What qualities are not valued? Why might someone choose public service over the private sector?

6. How does one evaluate the effectiveness of leaders in public service? Should a leader ever do or say anything that conflicts with their own personal views or beliefs?

7. What personal qualities help and/or hinder a leader in public service in achieving his or her goals?

When and Where a Leader May Emerge
8. How do current events contribute to the challenges leaders in public service face?

9. Does the public response matter when evaluating a public official's leadership?

10. Once one takes on a leadership position, is he or she automatically considered a leader? Why or why not?