Specific Traits Associated With Leadership
Researchers have identified a multitude of traits that are associated with leadership. Although there are many important leadership traits, what is most important for effective leadership is when the leader engages the right traits in the right place at the right time.
Intelligence:
Include having good language skills, perceptual skills, and reasoning ability. Intellectual ability has been positively associated with cognitive reasoning skills, the capacity to articulate ideas and thoughts to others, and the perceptual ability to recognize important situational factors (Bligh, M).
Confidence:
Feeling positive, self assured and believe they can accomplish there goals. Rather than feeling uncertain, they feel strong and secure about their positions. They have a clear vision and don't second guess themselves.
Charisma:
A special trait, considered to be a 'magnetic charm' that appeals to give a leader exceptional powers of influence. It is not a common trait because it is difficult to acquire.
Determination:
Leaders must be focused and attentive to tasks. They need to have initiative, drive, know where to go and how to get there. Leadership is often a difficult, thankless, and long process. Perhaps as a result of this fact, a great deal of research has suggested that leaders must be determined to complete a task or get a job done, even in the face of adversity or when there is less than overwhelming support from others (Bligh, M).
Sociability:
Sociability is defined as a leader’s desire for high-quality social relationships and the ability to maintain and restore positive relationships in difficult times. It is the ability to be friendly, outgoing, courteous, dependable, and trustworthy. Leaders tend to be sensitive to the needs of others and care about the interests of others. To say the least, they put others interests before their own. Leaders have good interpersonal skills that communicate their concern for others.
Integrity:
Undergirds all aspects of leadership. Leaders are often variously described as loyal, responsible, dependable, and honest. These characteristics inspire the confidence of others and provide evidence that leaders are authentic and have the best interests of the group at heart (Bligh, M).
Intelligence:
Include having good language skills, perceptual skills, and reasoning ability. Intellectual ability has been positively associated with cognitive reasoning skills, the capacity to articulate ideas and thoughts to others, and the perceptual ability to recognize important situational factors (Bligh, M).
Confidence:
Feeling positive, self assured and believe they can accomplish there goals. Rather than feeling uncertain, they feel strong and secure about their positions. They have a clear vision and don't second guess themselves.
Charisma:
A special trait, considered to be a 'magnetic charm' that appeals to give a leader exceptional powers of influence. It is not a common trait because it is difficult to acquire.
Determination:
Leaders must be focused and attentive to tasks. They need to have initiative, drive, know where to go and how to get there. Leadership is often a difficult, thankless, and long process. Perhaps as a result of this fact, a great deal of research has suggested that leaders must be determined to complete a task or get a job done, even in the face of adversity or when there is less than overwhelming support from others (Bligh, M).
Sociability:
Sociability is defined as a leader’s desire for high-quality social relationships and the ability to maintain and restore positive relationships in difficult times. It is the ability to be friendly, outgoing, courteous, dependable, and trustworthy. Leaders tend to be sensitive to the needs of others and care about the interests of others. To say the least, they put others interests before their own. Leaders have good interpersonal skills that communicate their concern for others.
Integrity:
Undergirds all aspects of leadership. Leaders are often variously described as loyal, responsible, dependable, and honest. These characteristics inspire the confidence of others and provide evidence that leaders are authentic and have the best interests of the group at heart (Bligh, M).