Personality In Leadership

Effective leaders lead by example, with honesty, confidence and compassion, intelligence and humor. Ineffective leaders merely mislead themselves.

(Sharon Rhea Ford)

Effective Leadership

Effective leadership is about executing the company's vision (or redefining and improving it, in some cases) and setting the tone and the culture for that particular organization.

Leadership means creating and planning, securing resources, and looking out for and improving errors. (blog.runrun.it)

Key Tasks of Leadership

• Hire high Caliber people
• Develop an inspiring vision
• Communicate clear individual stretching goals
• Manage performance/ give regular feedback
• Coach, Develop and Support team members when they need help
• Drive the next improvement

(Sources: Drucker, Bass, Adair, Ulrich, Goleman, Kotter)

Personality

• A set of dispositions or long-term tendencies to think, feel and act in particular ways

OR

• An individual’s preferred or typical style of behavior (thoughts, feelings and actions)

Personality Clutters (The Big 5)

Leadership and The Big 5

• EXTROVERSION: Most strongly related to Leadership. Leaders tend to be more assertive, confident, outgoing, and persuasive than others.
• CONSCIENTIOUSNESS: Second most strongly related trait. Effective leaders are typically driven, motivated, disciplined and hardworking. They are more structured in approach, setting goals and pursuing results
• OPENNESS: Features characteristics such as Creative, Curious, Insightful, and Informed. Those high in this trait are more likely to have imagination and vision.
• NEUROTICISM: Moderately and Negatively related to Leadership. Suggests that leaders need to remain calm, resilient and stable during a crisis.
• AGREEABLENESS: Least related to Leadership.

Personality Vs Leadership Style

The personality of leaders has a significant influence on the way they sense, think, believe and communicate with other people. Leader’s personality influences their behavior, controls their attitudes, and affects the way they perceive about things.

How Personality Might Adversely Impact on Leadership Effectiveness

• NON-CONFRONTATIONAL (AGREEABLENESS) = Dealing with an underperforming & aggressive team member.
• CHALLENGING AND DIRECT IN STYLE (EXTROVERSION) = Getting the best from a shy, underconfident team member.
• NOT TYPICALLY STRUCTURED & ORGANIZED (OPENNESS) = Managing team to meet deadlines.
• NOT NATURALLY CONFIDENT & PERSUASIVE (NEUROTICISM) = May be difficult for you to communicate vision in an inspiring way.
• COMPASSIONATE & CARING (AGREEABLENESS) = May be difficult to make tough decisions
• WORRIER OR GETS FLUSTERED UNDER PRESSURE (NEUROTICISM) = May not inspire confidence from team
• NOT AN IMAGINATIVE THINKER (CONSCIENTIOUSNESS) = May be difficult to develop an inspiring vision/envisage the next change
• LACK EMPATHY/LISTENING SKILLS (NEUROTICISM) = Harder to effectively coach team members

Is Personality Fixed?

• No. It is not fixed, personality can change across the lifespan and through personal development.
• But for most people, most characteristics are relatively stable over time. Someone who has tended to be quiet and reserved up to now will still tend to be the same tomorrow. However, he/she can change.
• Change is not easy. It takes effort.
• The starting point for change is Self-Awareness (read my take on that here)
• You are not a victim of your personality.
• Do not use your personality as an ‘excuse’.
• You can develop and change if you work at it.
• Self-Awareness is the key to managing your behavior and developing your capabilities.

Making The Change

Conclusion

A good leader must have to be able to understand his personality and figure out how his personality traits influence his behavior at workplace. The more leaders can understand their personality, the better they are able to identify their negative personality traits.