New schools of thought targeted at the modernization of the state and centered on the adoption of public management models designed to emphasize the notion of outcome as well as of managerial tools typical of management, leadership and the corporate world have characterized public management in Brazil. From this perspective, initiatives such as those of the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, with their modernization of state programs should be pointed out. Based on such experiences and movements, new issues emerge and demand to be better understood. From the analysis of the relations between initiatives associated to the movement around the so-called new public management and the category leadership, this study's main goal is to investigate, using empirical data collection conducted with occupants of key positions in the public sector of both Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro's governments, themes, issues and challenges that emerge from such initiatives, as well as their implications on the demand for new kinds of leadership and ways of its development. With the help of the qualitative data research software NVivo 8, it was possible to group the main issues and challenges identified around the relations between public administration and new leadership. The study also allowed us to identify a list of competency attributes required of the manager and leader of the public sector.
public administration; leadership; skills of public managers; managing for results
