Leadership
Communication is a core leadership function. Active listening, visibility and authenticity are key to be a good leader, as well as being inspiring, confident and empowering.
On this page:
Our standards
Leaders in the Government Communication Service come in many different roles and grades, from various backgrounds, working across different professional disciplines and they bring to public service communications a range of skills and experiences.
Our leaders may be responsible for large teams of communications professionals; lead a workstream or be a thought leader. They may work in central departments or in arm’s lengths bodies based across the UK.
Leadership Framework
Our new leadership framework builds on this to set out what great communication leadership looks like, to be strategic, connected, creative, collaborative and trusted.
Leading the communication profession
GCS 2020 is the improvement programme to ensure our profession delivers future best practice. Find out about the leadership project.
Civil service leadership statement
You are encouraged to develop and practise leadership skills that reflect the public service values and behaviours of the Civil Service Leadership Statement.
This statement of intent takes as its starting point the responsibility of the Civil Service for the effective delivery of the government’s programme and Ministers’ priorities, living its values and serving the public.
It highlights the 3 key characteristics that staff across the Civil Service (including central government agencies and arm’s length bodies) have indicated they expect from effective leaders, and that Civil Service leaders promise to live up to:
- Inspiring – about their work and its future
- Confident – in their engagement
- Empowering – their teams to deliver
Learning and resources
Start learning at your own pace and build the skills you need, using our curriculum. You can also engage with our leadership blogs and resources.