As globalisation and the integration of nations progress, modern workplaces are becoming more diverse than ever. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, races, ages, genders, cultures, and personalities are expected to work together and contribute to organisational productivity, ultimately providing competitive advantage. The primary challenge facing the South African Public Service is transforming its diverse workforce into a cohesive unit that upholds core values such as inclusivity, integrity, helpfulness, and reliability. Given that leadership is a reciprocal process of influencing others, selecting an appropriate leadership style should focus on leveraging diversity for organisational success. The article explores the role of leadership styles in managing diversity and inclusion within the South African public sector, a context influenced by historical inequalities and contemporary transformation imperatives. The study employed a qualitative approach using an interpretative phenomenological strategy. It involved three focus groups, each of four senior executives from three South African government departments, who were purposively sampled. Data was thematically analysed, and the central themes identified were connectedness, inclusivity, and diversity management. The findings revealed a persistent gap between policy intent and practice, which is attributed to structural constraints, leadership capacity, and varying levels of organisational commitment. The findings underscore the need for leadership development frameworks that are contextually relevant and aligned with principles of equity, representation, and social justice. The findings emphasise the necessity of having a clear vision for inclusion as a crucial step toward fostering connectedness and inclusivity. It is recommended that workshops addressing key management concepts and principles involve all departmental employees as part of an action-oriented Human Relations Management system to gain a competitive advantage within the diverse South African public service. The article offers practical implications for policymakers and organisational leaders striving to build more inclusive public institutions.