Leadership: do traits matter?

TLDR

Leadership trait research has a long, controversial history, showing that while certain traits (drive, motivation, integrity, confidence, cognitive ability, business knowledge) are linked to effective leaders, possession alone does not guarantee success and evidence for traits such as charisma and creativity remains unclear. The study posits that key leader traits enable leaders to acquire necessary skills, craft organizational vision and plans, and implement them.

Abstract

Executive Overview The study of leader traits has a long and controversial history. While research shows that the possession of certain traits alone does not guarantee leadership success, there is evidence that effective leaders are different from other people in certain key respects. Key leader traits include: drive (a broad term which includes achievements, motivation, ambition, energy, tenacity, and initiative); leadership motivation (the desire to lead but not to seek power as an end in itself); honesty and integrity; self-confidence (which is associated with emotional stability); cognitive ability; and knowledge of the business. There is less clear evidence for traits such as charisma, creativity and flexibility. We believe that the key leader traits help the leader acquire necessary skills; formulate an organizational vision and an effective plan for pursuing it; and take the necessary steps to implement the vision in reality.