Does personality play a role in effective leadership?

How can you tell if someone will make a successful leader? John Quincy Adams answers this question with the following quote: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

Psychologists classify personality dimensions into five separate components, namely the Big Five:

N = Need for stability, negative emotionality, neuroticism E = Extraversion, positive emotionality, sociability O = Originality, openness, imagination A = Agreeableness, accommodation, adaptability C = Consolidation, conscientiousness, will to achieve, goal-oriented

Five characteristics shared by effective leaders

1. Emotional Stability

Emotional stability will help good leaders to cope with stress, setbacks and uncertainty. Effective leaders are emotionally mature and consistent. They are emotionally intelligent, calm and grounded as well as reliable. They display integrity and do not take part in unethical proceedings.

2. Extraversion

Extraversion is characterized by sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness and excitability. Although extraversion can be advantageous in leadership, good leaders should be aware of perceptions of dominance.

3. Openness

Good leaders encourage a culture of openness where employees' ideas are heard and valued. Leaders are open, insightful and creative. The organization's goals, performance, successes and failures should be provided in channels of two-way communication between employees and managers, gathering ideas for improvement and rewarding employees for submitting them.

4. Agreeableness

A good leader can balance the degree of agreeableness. The way in which feedback or comments is communicated is crucial. The result is bonding and also building trust under colleagues. Kindness should not be mistaken for weakness. A strong leader needn't be impolite or a bully.

5. Conscientiousness

Effective leaders are highly organized, provide feedback and support, set goals and empower people by being open to creative solutions. Strong leaders are not afraid to be decisive and to make informed decisions.

Personality Types and Leadership Styles

Which leadership styles are most effective? Goleman uncovered six distinctive leadership styles:

1. The pace-setting leader

When quick results from a skilled and motivated team are required, this is the best style to choose. The leader sets high standards for performance. This style can undercut morale and make people feel as failures.

2. The authoritative leader

This style is most effective when the team needs new direction because of changed circumstances. The leader demands immediate compliance. Clear expectations and directions to team members are provided. These decisions are made without input from the group. This style often damages employee initiative and loyalty.

3. The affiliative leader

This style works best when the team needs to rebuild trust in times of stress or to heal rifts in a team. It stresses the importance of team work and improves team harmony through participation. The exclusive use of this style can foster mediocre performance and a lack of direction, due to excessive use of praise and nurturing.

4. The coaching leader

This style works best when the leader builds personal strengths of team members and develops people for the future. This style focuses on developing individuals and helping to connect their goals to the goals of the company.

5. The coercive leader

When a clear direction is needed in times of crises or when changes require a new vision, this style is effective in times of emergencies as it demands immediate compliance. This style should be avoided in most occasions as it has the potential to alienate people and stifle flexibility and inventiveness.

6. The democratic leader

This style is suited best when the team needs to take ownership of a goal. The leader forges consensus through participation. Guidance and direction are provided, but feedback from employees are also encouraged. This style is not suited in urgent situations where fast responds is needed.

Conclusion:

Instead of selecting one leadership style, effective leaders will select the style that is required in the moment, according to different circumstances. Technical competence does not guarantee effective leadership, but the ability to adjust and adopt different leadership styles accordingly, will increase productivity in the work place.

References:

http://www.bi.edu/bizreview/articles/personality-for-leadership/

https://www.fastcompany.com/1838481/6-leadership-styles-and-when-you-should-use-them

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/06/01/how-personality-plays-a-role-effective-leadership.html

http://www.workingresources.com/professionaleffectivenessarticles/leadership-personality-do-you-have-the-right-big-five-traits.html