LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE: ASSESSING THE FUTURE-READY HUMAN SKILLS TOWARDS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

Abstract

Leadership and social influence have been hotly debated as among the top 21st-century skills. Previous research on leadership and social influence has focused mostly on leadership traits and characteristics, while little research has examined the social influence process by which public servants become effective leaders. The purpose of this paper is to develop an initial review from a public service perspective to outline the skill that contributes to the development as a future-ready human skill by public servants. This conceptual paper relies on prior research and existing theory to focus on the developmental processes that lead to acquiring the leadership and social influence skill as future-ready human skills. Additionally, leadership and social influence skills could contribute to particular behaviours to the effectiveness of good governance practices. Based on the literature review, it is assumed that there is a positive relationship between leadership and social influence and the effectiveness of good governance practices. Most importantly, this paper addresses how the skill is unique and most realistically developed in a public organisation.