CHAPTER TWO

Traits, Motives, and Characteristics of

Leaders

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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.

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Learning Objectives

• Discuss the heredity versus environment issue in relation to leadership effectiveness.

• Summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach to leadership.

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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

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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

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General Personality Traits of Effective Leaders

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Task-Related Personality Traits of Leaders

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Leadership Motives

• Leaders generally have a strong desire to influence and control others

• This desire is evident in four needs or motives

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Leadership Motives

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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

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Cognitive Factors and Leadership

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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

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Trait Approach

• 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

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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

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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