Public sector managers lack confidence in their own leadership skills and consistently underestimate what they achieve, according to results from The Work Foundation’s Liberating Leadership ‘profiling tool’.

The results show that individual managers are regularly rated more highly by their own managers and colleagues than they rate themselves.

The research found that public sector leaders are most successful when it comes to taking responsibility for their own and their team’s actions and not taking credit for other people’s successes.

However, public sector managers are seen to be less good at providing an inspirational view of the future and delegating effectively.   

The research has revealed some stereotypical views of gender difference, with women managers recognised for a nurturing role. Women managers also have a more positive view of their own ability to recognise stress, make people feel important and help others to deliver.

It found that team members consistently rate women managers more highly than male managers. They rate women as more successful than men at keeping promises; consulting others, developing staff and clarifying direction.

Line managers tend to rate the leadership skills of male managers who work for them more highly than they do female managers.