Leadership
    • One psychological perspective on 
       leadership 
    "Leadership is just like psychic fraud... 
       you're waiting for something lucky to 
                                 
       happen you can take credit for" (Dilbert, 2002)
                     Outline
    •The Trait Approach
      – Personality
      – Motives
      – Cognitive factors
    •Leadership Traits Activity
                           
     Understanding Leadership: 
             The Trait Approach
    •The “Great Man” theory:
          •The best leaders have particular qualities which 
            make them inherently more fit to lead than 
            other people. 
          •Julius Caesar or Napolean would have been 
            influential figures anywhere anytime
    •This view is represented in biographies, 
       news reporting, history books
    •Common sense approach to leadership
                                  
             The Trait Approach
      •Most extreme form:
         – Leaders are born, not made.
      •Characteristics associated with 
        leadership can be classified into three 
        broad categories
         – Personality traits
         – Motives
         – Cognitive factors
                                 
             Personality Traits
    •P1) Self-confidence
      – The ability to be certain about one’s 
        competencies and skills
    •P2) Integrity
      – The quality of honesty and 
        trustworthiness.  They inspire 
        confidence because they can be trusted.