Not all leaders are the same. But good leaders have common personality and ability traits, says Harvard Business Review (HBR).
It challenges the common belief that leadership is hard to predict and largely dependent on the circumstances.
“In reality, some people have a much higher probability of becoming leaders, regardless of the context, and this probability can be precisely quantified with robust psychological tools,” states Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of a recent HBR report on the topic. Chamorro-Premuzic is the CEO of Hogan Assessment Systems and professor of business psychology at University College London.
Who Becomes a Leader?
The report presents some important findings related to personality and ability traits of leaders.
“As the most widely cited meta-analysis in this area shows, people who are more adjusted, sociable, ambitious, and curious are much more likely to become leaders,” Chamorro-Premuzic states.
There is also a high correlation between cognitive ability (IQ) and leadership potential. Higher levels of IQ increase a person’s chance to become a leader.
Emotional intelligence is important too. Leaders who are emotionally intelligent have better people skills and can stay calm in difficult times.
Who Is an Effective Leader?
Stephen Covey, author of the best-selling book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” said: “Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.”
So effective leaders can be measured by looking at the performance of their teams relative to competitors. They make sure their teams set the right goals and move towards achieving those goals.
And leaders who value integrity are able to create a fair and ethical culture that, in return, boosts the performance of their teams.
With respect to gender, the report says being male or female has no material impact on leadership potential.
There are more male leaders mainly because of social factors like people’s expectations, cultural norms, and opportunities, according to Chamorro-Premuzic.
“In fact, some studies have shown that women are slightly more effective as leaders on the job, but this may be because the standards for appointing women to leadership positions are higher than those for appointing men,” he states.
