Assessing leadership style: Trait analysis. (2005)

“Seven traits have been found to be particularly useful in assessing leadership style: 1 – the belief that one can influence or control what happens. 2 – the need for power and influence

Margaret G. Hermann, Cramer Professor of Global Affairs in the Department of Political Science in the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and director of that school’s Global Affairs Institute

Ch. 8 (p 178) of The Psychological Assessment of Political Leaders, Editor Jerrold M. Post, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press.

“Seven traits have been found to be particularly useful in assessing leadership style: 1 – the belief that one can influence or control what happens

2 – the need for power and influence

3 – conceptual complexity (the ability to differentiate things and people in one’s environment)

4 – self-confidence

5 – the tendency to focus on problem solving and accomplishing something versus maintenance of the group and dealing with others’ ideas and sensitivities

6 – general distrust or suspiciousness of others,

7 – the intensity with which a person holds an in-group bias.”

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