The Role of Relevant Experience and Intellectual Ability in Determining the Performance of Military Leaders: A Contingency Model Explanation

Abstract

A field study involving 79 army combat officers in middle echelon leadership positions was conducted to evaluate the role of relevant experience and intellectual ability in predicting leadership performance. Biographical and organizational data were the primary measures used to ascertain the relevance of leader experience. This represents a departure from previously used methodology which considered only the leaders' organizational tenure in determining experience levels. Results shed light on the components of Fiedler's Contingency Model of Leadership Effectiveness supporting the hypothesis that task- and relationship-motivated leaders make effective use of their experience only in situations which match their leadership personality. The study also suggests a plausible relationship between the leader's cognitive resources and leader behaviors.