When finished reading this week’s lesson and textbook chapter, the trait approach is a way of studying personality that places emphasis on the traits of an individual as markers of personality. In the early 20th century, leadership traits there were scholars that would determine what made individuals a great leader. These theories would focus on identifying the natural qualities and personalities that would be possessed by great social, political, and military leaders. Specific traits would determine what separated leaders from followers during this period of (Northouse, 2022, p. 27). Traits that are continuing to show patterns of behavior and thoughts are generally stable over time. Traits are often the things that people use to describe another person such as courteous, disrespectful, humorous, trustworthy. The trait approach suggests that our personalities are comprised of these differing behavioral traits. As a previous leader in the military, I wished I knew about these traits to be a more successful leader at the beginning of my career instead of towards the end.
Stogdill’s first survey showed that traits that were connected with leadership must have dependability on a situation in which the leader is operating which determines that leadership relies on situational factors and not on traits while the second survey claimed that traits and situational factors were important to leadership (Northouse, 2022, pp. 28-29). In the end, outlining traits that leaders need can be beneficial when considering the situation of a leader.
An issue that I came across with these theories and models that tried to describe leadership using these traits is that often they do not account for how obligations for leadership may be different from a certain situation in which the individual may be leading. The theories such as the Five Factor Personality Model establishes a list of factors that may inspire an individual to be a prospective leader, there are individuals that may neglect to consider these said factors. In the reading, Northouse mentions two surveys that were conducted by Stogdill where he had analyzed trait studies that contributed to leadership development (Northouse, 2022, p. 28).
In a study done by Judge, Bono, Ilies, and Gerhardt (2002), there appeared to be a strong bond between the Big Five traits of the Five-Factor Personality Model and leadership. In order of important, extraversion was the strongest factor associated with being an effective leader, followed by conscientiousness, openness, low neuroticism, and agreeableness which was the weakest in leadership (Northouse, 2022, pp. 35-36).
Image. Psychologist world.
Therefore, in order to become a better effective leader in the future, I would consider using the five traits listed in the reading by Northouse (2022). Although, some individuals are born with these traits will help them be successful in leadership while others have to work hard to obtain them in order to become an effective leader. These characteristics are able to be learned and worked on for those who aren’t born with them.
References:
Image. Psychologist World. Accessed (01 28, 2022). Retrieved from: https://www.psychologistworld.com/personality/five-factor-model-big-five-personality#references
Northouse, P.G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice. 9th Edition. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
The Trait Approach is not only one of the earliest systematic attempts to understanding leadership (Northouse, 2021), but is also one of the most common approaches to conceptualizing leadership (PSU WC, 2022, L. 1). As you noted, this approach is used to distinguish leaders from non-leaders or followers, as traits are generally accepted to be stable over time and relatively unchanging (cmc7221, 2022). However, what resonated most with me about your post was your insight about yourself and how as a military leader, understanding the trait approach would have been beneficial (cmc7221, 2022). If you ever have the inclination or opportunity, it would be great to go into more detail about specifically, what would have been helpful.
The trait approach is one of the most robustly studied, but leadership is dependent on other factors. For example, I support your use of Stogdill’s 1948 survey that stressed the importance of situation on leadership and for which Northouse (2021) based his statement, “An individual with leadership traits who was a leader in one situation might not be a leader in another situation,” (pg. 27). I would think this is very much the case in the military. I would suspect that by design, military leaders share similar leadership traits and as such, would be interested in understanding the effect of situation on this particular group of individuals.
Further, Northouse (2021) references Mann’s 1959 meta-analysis that found intelligence, masculinity, and dominance to be significantly related to leadership perception. Given the disproportionate number of male versus female leaders in the military, one would expect these findings to play a role in leadership assignment. Was this an observation you experienced as a military leader?
When referencing the Five-Factor Personality Model with respect to leadership, you indicated that the model identifies extraversion as the most associated factor with leadership. With respect to the military, do you agree with this association? How would you have used the five traits, extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, neuroticism, and agreeableness to your advantage as a military leader? Based on the 2014 findings of Sacket and Walmsley suggesting that conscientiousness was the trait that had the highest correlation with overall job performance, task performance, organizational citizenship behavior, and counter productive work behavior (negative correlation), do you believe this trait to be more or less important to extraversion with respect to leadership traits (Northouse, 2021)?
References
Northouse, P.G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and Practice. 9th Edition. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. ISBN 978-1-5443-9756-6.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2022). PSYCH 485 Lesson L01: Introduction to Leadership. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2177519/modules/items/33991624