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The Leadership Dilemma
in a Democratic Society

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The Senior Executive Service Leadership Dilemma

A. The constitution assures that Government represents the will of the people by requiring elections. In an election a candidate needs to differentiate him/herself through a campaign. The election process is intended to satisfy the will of the people.

B. New political appointees place pressure on senior civil servants to fulfill election promises. In a micromanaged environment, short-term outcomes can be realized. As a result, an authoritarian manager is recognized, rewarded and promoted to more important positions.

C. See above

D. The reward for results achieved through a command and control approach is visible to employees and becomes perceived as the preferred behavior.

E. Senior leadership is recognized for “Results” in spite of the impact on employees and the organization. This institutionalizes this leadership style and reinforces an unintended consequence of reducing employee engagement and morale, feeding the distrust of employees and lowering productivity.