Link Between Personality and Leadership

Personality and Leadership The link between personality and leadership has attracted considerable concern and debate in the recent past as the issue of leadership continues to generate significant attention. The significant concern on the relationship between personality and leadership has been fueled by the trait theory of leadership, which postulates that individual with some personality attributes are more likely to be effective in leadership positions or roles as compared to others.

Actually, studies on the effectiveness of leadership have provided support for the link between personality traits and leadership ability and effectiveness (O'Connor & Jackson, 2010, p.185). In light of recent studies on the effectiveness of leadership, it is increasingly clear that there is a strong link between personality and leadership. While early reviews of personality and leadership seemingly dismiss the link between personality or individual characteristics and leadership ability, personality plays a crucial role in leadership.

The role of personality in leadership is that it provides some individual characteristics that influence the ability of an individual to be effective in leadership roles and responsibilities. According to the findings of recent studies, personality influences leadership ability through determining persistence, extraversion, flexibility, and emotional stability and dominance. Therefore, personality contributes to difference in leadership ability through determining several stable individual characteristics. Given the significance and impact of personality on leadership, there are some personality traits that make it impossible for some leaders to implement some leadership strategies.

While leadership is not an issue of passive status or simple possession of certain traits, there are individual characteristics that make it difficult for some leaders to execute certain leadership strategies (Judge et. al., 2002, p.765). In essence, leaders are distinguished from other people on the premise or basis of individual characteristics. The personality traits that provide a strong link between individual attributes and leadership are commonly known as the Big Five traits.

This implies that personality traits that do not fall under the Big Five traits make it impossible for some leaders to exercise certain leadership strategies. Leaders and followers need to understand the personality traits that generate difficulties for some leaders to exercise some leadership strategies. It is important for leaders to understand the significance of personality traits in leadership in order to understand the behaviors of leaders. The lack of certain personality traits for effectiveness in executing some leadership strategies contributes to unethical leadership practices.

A creative personality and innovative mindset enhances the ability of individuals to validate their behavior (Gu, Tang & Jiang, 2015, p.514). Therefore, the lack of these traits does not contribute to a creative personality and mindset, which hinders a person's ability to justify their behavior and results in unethical leadership. Historically, leadership has been described from several perspectives and defined by varying concepts.

From a personal perspective, leadership is a means of social influence through which an individual obtains the help and support of others in order to achieve a mutual objective. This is the most suitable definition of leadership since the process is usually based on influencing others to help in achievement of a common or shared goal. Without the influence and support of others, it is relatively impossible for the individual or leader to accomplish the goal.

The most significant effects leadership can have on an organization include accomplishment of specific goals, increased motivation of individuals, and enhanced creativity. These effects emerge from the fact that the leader uses appropriate techniques to motivate and organize a group of individuals to realize the common goal.