Chapter 2: Northhouse – Trait – Flashcards

~ The trait approach is one of the first systematic attempts to study leadership ~ The trait approach focuses on leaders & what traits leaders exhibit & who has these traits

Great Man/Person Theory (1900s): focused on identifying innate __________ & _____________ possessed by great social, __________ & military leaders

Intelligence: ___________, perceptual & ________________ capabilities ~ Ex. Steve Jobs

Self Confidence: certainty about ones _____________ & skills ~ Ex. _____________

Determination: __________ to get the _____ done (i.e, initiative, persistence, drive) ~ Ex: Dr. Paul Farmer

Integrity: the __________ of honesty & _______________ ~ Ex: character counts program

Sociability:___________ inclination to seek out pleasant __________ relationships ~ Ex. Michael Hughes, University President

There is no one specific set of traits that determines or predicts leadership because as research continued, there still is the idea that leaders may be born with these special innate traits, but it may be more about how we (their followers) perceive these traits as leadership traits

~ Situations: a leader that possesses a trait perceived as important in one situation may not be seen as a leader in a different situation if that trait is not important in the new situation ~ Behavioral: we might be able to enhance our abilities & behaviors in order to fit more as a leader (Zaccaro etc)

Neuroticism: the tendency to be ____________, anxious, insecure, _______________ & hostile *the one we want the __________* ~ ______ correlation to strong leadership

Extraversion: the tendency to be sociable & ___________ & to have positive energy ~ Most strongly associated with ___________ leadership *most ____________ one*

Openness: the tendency to be informed, _____________, insightful & __________ ~ _______ most related to strong leadership

Agreeableness: the tendency to be _______________, comforting, ___________ & nurturing ~ ___________ related to leadership

Conscientiousness: the tendency to be thorough, _____________, controlled, ______________ & decisive ~ __________ most related to strong leadership

The leadership trait questionnaire tells you about your personal characteristics of leadership ~ Use personality assessment to find the "right" people ~ Assumption: will increase organizational effectiveness ~ Specify characteristic/ traits for specific positions -Instruments: LTQ's Meyers-Briggs -Personality assessment measures for "fit"

Strengths of the Trait Approach: Intuitively appealing ~ ____________ that leaders are ____________ in that they posses special traits. People need to _______ leaders as "gifted" ~ ________________ due to century of research support ~ ___________ level understanding of how leader/ personality is ____________ to leadership process. Provides ___________ for what to __________ for in a leader

Criticisms of the Trait Approach: Fails to delimit a definitive list ~ Doesn't take into account _____________ effects ~ ____________ in one situation may not be leaders in __________ situation ~ List of most _____________ leadership traits are highly ___________.

Criticisms of the Trait Approach (cont): Highly subjective ~ Much subjective experience & _______________ serve as __________ for identified leadership traits ~ _____________ fails to look at traits in relationship to leadership ____________ ~ Not ________ for training & _______________

How the trait approach is applicable to real world settings: ~ Provides _____________ as to which traits are _________ to have if one aspires to a _____________ position ~ Through various ________ & questionnaires, _____________ can determine whether they have the select leadership ________ & can pinpoint their _____________ & ____________

How the trait approach is applicable to real world settings(cont): ~ Can be used by _____________ to assess where they stand within their organization & what is needed to __________ their position ~ New ___________ on traits happening now