WHAT WE MUST NOT COMPROMISE ON: The Six Non-Negotiable Competencies Every Public Sector Director Must Already Possess on Day One

By Dr Bolaji Olagunju
In the last column I argued that the five most important qualities of a public sector director are qualities that cannot be taught. Independence of mind. Curiosity. Courage. Public-interest instinct. Stamina for disagreement. These are dispositional. They are present in a candidate on the day of appointment, or they are not, and no induction programme will install them later.
Today I want to make a different argument, addressing a different question. There are technical competencies that, unlike the five qualities, can in principle be taught. Financial literacy can be learned. Strategic thinking can be developed. Sector knowledge can be acquired. But there is a...