Mapping contemporary leadership theory for leadership development in public sector organizations

Purpose The purpose of this general review essay is to offer an overview of orientations to contemporary leadership theory so that leadership and organization developers in public sector organizations can more effectively connect specific leadership teaching techniques and training design to theoretical traditions in leadership theory. Design/methodology/approach The essay is organized to unpack three foundational categories of contemporary leadership theory and three thematic overlays relevant to public-sector organizations. The theoretical categories and the thematic overlays are represented in Figure 1. Findings Leadership developers working with public sector organizations use teaching techniques to produce theoretically informed knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Originality/value Improving public sector leadership developers' abilities to align with theoretical traditions in leadership studies, through aligned teaching techniques and training design, will enhance evidence-based leader and leadership development and enable more sophisticated analysis of the ethical and political dimensions of leadership unique to public sector organizations.