1. Recognizing Your Traits
Chapter 2:
Recognizing Your Traits

2. Chapter Objectives Understand the six key leadership traits.
Reviewing traits and characteristics of famous leaders.

3. Discussion Questions Why are some people leaders while others are not?
What makes people become leaders?
Do leaders have certain traits?

4. Leadership Traits Explained
Studies on leadership identified many important leader traits.
What specific traits are needed to be a successful leader?
Research points to six traits:
Intelligence
Confidence
Charisma
Determination
Sociability
Integrity

5. Intelligence
Intelligence includes having good language skills, perceptual skills, & reasoning ability.
It is hard to change Intelligence Quotient (IQ).
It is possible to:
obtain knowledge
learn about your job & environment
use information to become better leaders

6. Confidence
Confidence is a trait that has to do with feeling positive about one’s self & one’s ability to succeed.
Confident people:
feel self-assured
believe they can accomplish goals
do not second-guess themselves—they move forward with clear visions
they are positive about self & ability

7. Confidence How do we build confidence?
Understanding what is required from us
Have a mentor to show the way & provide constructive feedback
Practice builds confidence & assures us that we can do what we need to do (e.g., Tiger Woods)

8. Charisma
Magnetic charm and appeal that gives leaders exceptional powers of influence
Charisma is not a common personality trait.
To increase charisma:
Be a strong role model for values
Be competent in leadership to gain trust
Articulate clear goals & strong values
Communicate high expectations & show confidence in followers’ abilities
Inspire others
Ex.: J. F. Kennedy, Gandhi, M. L. King Jr.

9. Determination Focused & attentive to tasks
Know where to go & how to get there
Includes initiative, persistence, & drive
Persevere in the face of obstacles
Easiest for leaders to acquire
Focus on task, clarify goals, articulate vision, & encourage others to stay the course
Ex.: marathon runners, Nelson Mandela

10. Sociability The capacity to establish pleasant social relationships
Friendly, outgoing, courteous, & diplomatic
Sensitive to others & cooperative
Easier for some than others
Increasing sociability requires that we try to get along with our coworkers
be friendly, kind, & thoughtful
Ex.: Anne Fox in leadership class

11. Integrity Honest & trustworthy with strong principles
Inspire confidence because it creates trust
Loyal, dependable, & not deceptive
Undergirds all aspects of leadership
To increase integrity—be honest & open
Challenge:
To strike a balance between being open while monitoring what is appropriate to disclose
Ex.: Former President Bill Clinton

12. Historical Leaders George Washington Winston Churchill Mother Teresa
Bill Gates
Oprah Winfrey
Nelson Mandela

13. George Washington Founding father and general in the Revolutionary War
(1732–1799)
Founding father and general in the Revolutionary War
Traits:
Modest
Moral
Common man
Did not thrive on power
Provided stability & reason
Even & predictable
Was “great” because he was “good”

14. Winston Churchill Prime Minister of Great Britain Traits:
(1874–1965)
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Traits:
Brilliant orator—masterful use of language, plain speaking
Ambitious for others & the country
Inspirational & hope-building
A self-trained reader
Suffered from depression—a loner

15. Mother Teresa
(1910–1997)
Humanitarian & Nobel Peace Prize Winner (1979) for her work with the poor in Calcutta
Founded Missionaries of Charity in 1950
Traits:
Simple
Clear mission—focused on goals
Determined & fearless
Humble & spiritual
Strong-willed
Role model for others

16. William (Bill) Gates
(1954– Present )
Founder of Microsoft & wealthiest person in the world
Created a foundation for education & global health
Traits:
Intelligent & visionary
Task-oriented & diligent
Focused & aggressive
Simple, straightforward, unpretentious, & altruistic

17. Oprah Winfrey
(1954– Present )
TV show host, philanthropist, actress, producer, & publisher
Most powerful/influential woman
Traits:
Excellent communicator
Intelligent, well-read, strong business sense
Charismatic style
Sincere & determined
Self-disclosing
Message of hope

18. Nelson Mandela
(1932– 2013)
First black president of South Africa & 1993 Nobel Peace Prize Winner for his role in ending apartheid
Traits:
Self-reflective & deeply moral
Vision unwavering—fairness & justice
Steadfast, focused, & disciplined
Nonviolent & not vindictive
Consensus builder
Courageous, patient, humble, & compassionate

19. What do they all have in common?
Visionary
Strong-willed
Diligent
Inspirational
Purpose-driven
Role models
Symbols of hope
From these exceptional leaders we can gain a better understanding of the traits that are important for effective leadership.

20. Case Study: An Emerging Leader
What is your reaction to Tim’s story?
From your perspective, which has the greatest impact on Tim’s leadership journey—nature or nurture?
Of the six major leadership traits, which are Tim’s strongest and weakest?
What characteristics of Tim’s leadership would you like to incorporate into your own style of leadership?

21. Summary Traits are important Leadership is a complex process
but only one dimension of a multidimensional process
Leadership is a complex process
no simple paths or guarantees to becoming an effective leader 21