Traits, Motives, and Characteristics of Leaders CHAPTER TWO Traits, Motives, and Characteristics of Leaders

Learning Objectives Identify general and task-related traits that contribute to leadership effectiveness. Describe how emotional intelligence contributes to leadership effectiveness. Identify key motives that contribute to leadership effectiveness. Describe cognitive factors associated with leadership effectiveness. Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Learning Objectives Discuss the heredity versus environment issue in relation to leadership effectiveness. Summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach to leadership. Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Universal Theory of Leadership The belief that certain personal characteristics and skills contribute to leadership effectiveness in many situations Three categories: Personality traits Motives Cognitive factors Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Leader Personality Traits General Personality Traits Traits observable both within and outside the context of work Task-Related Personality Traits Traits closely associated with task accomplishment Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

General Personality Traits of Effective Leaders Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Task-Related Personality Traits of Leaders Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Leadership Motives Leaders generally have a strong desire to influence and control others This desire is evident in four needs or motives Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Leadership Motives Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Cognitive Factors Leaders must have problem-solving and intellectual skills to effectively gather, process, and store essential information Five cognitive factors related to leadership effectiveness have been identified Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Cognitive Factors and Leadership Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Nature versus Nurture Are leaders born or are they made? Both. Individuals inherit a basic capacity to develop personality traits and mental ability that sets an outer limit on how extensively these traits can be developed Environmental influences, in turn, determine how much of an individual’s potential will be developed Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Trait Approach Limitations Strengths Serves as a guide to leader selection Can guide individuals in preparing for leadership Limitations Does not identify which characteristics are absolutely needed Does not specify how much of a trait or characteristic is needed Can breed an elitist conception of leadership Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Summary The universal theory of leadership asserts that certain personality traits, leader motives, and cognitive factors contribute to leadership effectiveness Personality traits include both general traits and task-related traits Leaders can often be distinguished by their needs or motives Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved

Summary Mental ability is important for leadership success Traits, motives, and characteristics required for leadership are a combination of heredity and environment Traits do appear to distinguish leaders from nonleaders and effective leaders from less-effective leaders Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved