Traits theory:
The onset of leadership research
Emergence of Great Man Theory
Focused on identifying innate qualities
and characteristics possessed by great
social, political, & military leaders
Historical Shifts in Trait Perspective
Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition. © 2016 SAGE Publications, Inc.
McClelland’s research on Managerial motivation
• Need for power
• Need for achievement
• Need for affiliation
Miner’s research on managerial motivation
• Managerial motivation predicts
advancement in large organization:
• Desire to exercise power
• Desire to compete with peers
• Positive attitude toward authority figure
Critical incident research on competencies
• Effective managers:
• Strong efficiency orientation
• Strong socialized power orientation
• Self confidence
• Strong belief in self efficacy and internal locus
of control
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong conceptual skills
Longitudinal research with assessment centers
• Predict advancement after 20 years:
• Desire for advancement
• Dominance
• Interpersonal skills
• Cognitive skills
• Administrative skills
• Measured in year 8, predict advancement in
year 20.
• Achievement orientation
• Self confidence
• Energy level
• Need for security
Ccl research on managers who derail
• Emotional stability
• Defensiveness
• Integrity
• Interpersonal skills
• Technical and cognitive skills
Managerial traits and effectiveness
• High energy level and stress
tolerance
• Self-confidence
• Internal locus of control
orientation
• Emotional maturity
• Personal integrity
• Socialized power motivation
• Moderately high achievement
orientation
• Low need for affiliation
Agreeableness
Extraversion Emotional
stability
Conscientiousness Openness to new
experience
Managerial skills and effectiveness
• Technical skills
• Conceptual skills
• Interpersonal skills
Other relevant competencies
• Emotional intelligence
• Social intelligence
• Systems thinking
• Ability to learn
Major Leadership Traits
Intelligence
• Verbal, perceptual, and reasoning capabilities
Self-Confidence
• Certainty about one’s competencies and skills. Ex. Steve Jobs
Determination
• Desire to get the job done
•
Integrity
• The quality of honesty and trustworthiness
Sociability
• Leader’s inclination to seek out pleasant social relationships.
Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition. © 2016 SAGE Publications, Inc.
Basic Administrative Skills – Katz (1955)
Leaders need all
three skills— but
relative
importance
changes based on
level of
management
Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition. © 2016 SAGE Publications, Inc.
Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition. © 2016 SAGE Publications, Inc.
Situational relevance of skills
• Skills needed at different levels
• Transferability of skills across organizations
• Requisite skills and the external environment
Evaluation of traits research
Are great leaders born and not
made?
“Traits evolve over time”
Do you agree?
How does traits
evolve over
time?
3 patterns of
evolution of
traits?
Factors
influencing
formation and
evolution of
traits?
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing
with some traits?
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing
with some traits?
Socially
Socially desirable
undesirable traits –
traits – positive
negative
implications?
implications?
Socially
Socially desirable
undesirable traits –
traits – negative
positive
implications?
implications?
Is it necessary to consider the joint effects of different
traits and skills?
The Leader Trait Emergence-Effectiveness
model
What traits are the best predictors of managerial
performance and advancement?
What traits are the best predictors of managerial
performance and advancement?
Universal • Intelligence
• Integrity
across
levels
• Low level:
According Interpersonal skills
to level • High level:
Dominance
Lessons for leaders