Leadership in Lithuanian Civil Service

Abstract

The article discusses the empirical results of the research on leadership in Lithuanian Civil Service that was
conducted in Autumn 2008 and was funded by the Civil Service Department under the Ministry of the Interior
of the Republic of Lithuania. The research presents a challenging opportunity to compare “ideal“ and “real”
models of civil servant-leader. The “ideal model” reveals civil servants’ approach towards a civil servant-leader
“must have” features, competencies, value orientations and skills. The “real model” presents the features of
civil servants that are identified as leaders among their colleagues. The model reveals social skills and personal
features that are relevant to a leader as well as the factors of building leadership competencies. Study results
revealed the challenging tendency that the aspects of new public governance are dominant in the perception of
leadership. The most commonly mentioned characteristics of a civil servant-leader are responsibility, morality,
tolerance, communication skills, competence.