What is inside-out leadership? It’s a human-centric approach that calls leaders to lead themselves before leading others. It can be applied in any context to help leaders find balance between authentic and approachable, humble and confident, and vulnerable and resilient, to name a few. The Fourth of July holiday in the United States is a day to reflect on the values that have shaped its journey. Released earlier this year, McKinsey’s America at 250 series explores the nation’s opportunities, with a final essay authored by McKinsey’s Ramesh Srinivasan, Scott Blackburn, and coauthors highlighting four inside-out qualities critical for public sector leaders today. In an increasingly uncertain world, balance is more important than ever. Whether or not you work in the civic domain, explore these insights from McKinsey’s Public Sector practice for lessons on leadership excellence—cocreating with stakeholders, inspiring boldness in teammates, engaging rivals with humility, and more.
