Phurpa Lhamo 

Following secretaries and directors-general who were assessed about a month ago, a leadership assessment exercise for directors found that one-third (around 19) of the directors failed to meet the expectations required of executives holding these position levels.

Out of the 59 directors who were assessed, another third (around 19) was promising.

Much like for underperforming secretaries and directors-general, the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) stated in a press release that the Commission was in the process of managing them out. “The decision to manage our executives out had to be taken in service of our national objectives.”

Earlier, individuals had questioned the executives’ past achievements after they were appointed to their current position.

The Commission stated that executives might have been appointed to their current positions as a result of past accomplishments and contributions, but past performance in itself did not guarantee future results.

For the promising directors, RCSC plans to further test their suitability to assume expanded roles.

“Together with executives at the secretarial and director-general position levels, these directors will be involved in driving civil service reforms and restructuring,” stated the press release.

Eighteen secretaries and 44 executives at director-general position levels were assessed earlier this year.

“These unprecedented leadership assessments have underscored the importance of having a system that continuously assesses civil servants at all position levels. The RCSC began with the civil service leadership, because it is our leaders who should drive results and exemplify accountability,” stated the press release. “Collectively, these initiatives represent the fundamental shift in the RCSC’s approach towards leadership selection and performance management.”

The assessor panel was composed of local and international individuals.