The document summarizes different theories of leadership over time including the Great Man theory, behavioral approach, relational approach, and transformational approach. It then discusses the importance of fit between a leader's personality and the situation/followers. The remainder of the document focuses on the OCEAN model of personality traits and how levels of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism correlate with different leadership styles and political affiliations.

1. The Political
Personality
Dr. Daniel Crosby
www.incblot.org
@IncBlot – Twitter

2. A (Really) Brief History of
Leadership Theory
Great Man Behavioral Relational Transformational

3. Great Man
Early 1900’s
Nothing added or taken
away
I’m out of a job
Disregards great women

4. Behavioral Approach
1950’s
What behaviors do great leaders exhibit?
No “right” answer across all contexts

5. Relational Approach
1975-present
Leadership is a result of high quality relationships between leaders and followers
Based on mutual trust and affinity
Necessary but not sufficient

6. Transformational Approach
1985-present
Past leadership approaches have been transactional
Real leaders do things that may not “make sense” for a higher
purpose

7. The Importance of Fit
“Leadership is far better
understood as a group process
that hinges on a symbiotic
relationship between leaders and
followers. The best leaders, they
say, are prototypical of their
group.” - The Psychology of
Leadership

8. Please describe
your best friend.

9. O.C.E.A.N.

10. Openness (Rules)
A general appreciation for art,
emotion, adventure, unusual ideas,
imagination, curiosity, and variety of
experience.

11. “O” and Leadership
Low Rules High Rules
Creative Traditional
Appreciate art, Appreciate
newness, and change functionality and
proven success
Easily bored – may
change for its own sake May miss opportunities
for growth in their
May fix “what ain’t pursuit of the status quo
broke”
Practicality can stifle
Can be impractical creativity

12. Openness =
Change
The President’s 2008
campaign was built almost
entirely around the idea of
“Openness.”

13. Conscientiousness
The tendency to show self-discipline,
act dutifully, and aim for achievement
against measures or outside
expectations.

14. “C” and Leadership
High Conscientiousness Low Conscientiousness
Structured Spontaneous
Plan my work and Take the day as it
work my plan comes
Create a “plan of Tackle problems as
attack” they emerge
Get stressed Give stress
Concentrated effort Multitasking

15. Extroversion
Is characterized by the tendency to seek out
stimulation and the company of others.

16. “E” and Leadership
High Extroversion Low Extroversion
Speak-Speak-Think Think-Think-Speak
May think out loud May think they have
which can confuse communicated
others something they only
thought
Skilled at developing
and maintaining far- Tend to value
reaching relationships smaller, closer groups
of friends
Can be mistaken for
being vapid Can be mistaken for
being aloof

17. Speak, Speak,
Think.

18. Agreeableness (Tough
Minded)
The tendency to be compassionate
and cooperative rather than
suspicious and antagonistic towards
others.

19. “A” and Leadership
Low Tough Minded High Tough Minded
Concerned with social Concerned with
harmony
directness
Trusting of others’ motives
Wary of others’ motives
Can be taken advantage
of Can be slow to
develop trust
Tend to look out for the
group
Tend to protect their
May personalize discussion own interests
May fail to speak out May step on toes in the
interest of being blunt

20. Super?

21. Neuroticism (Stable)
The tendency to experience negative
emotions, such as anger, stress or sadness.

22. “N” and Leadership
Low Stable High Stable
Easily impacted by Deep emotional rudder
stress
May be unaware of
Often have deep the emotional
empathy for others components of their
decisions
May let burnout and
fatigue impact their Typically impervious to
work stress
Tend to seek out “no Not impacted by
drama” workplaces “drama”

23. Anger is a Gift?
"We will find those who did it. We
will smoke them out of their holes.
We'll get them running, and we'll
bring them to justice." -- Bush
"I don't sit around talking to
experts because this is a college
seminar. We talk to these folks
because they potentially have the
best answers, so I know whose ass
to kick.” - Obama

24. OCEAN’s Apart?
Republicans Democrats
Openness
Conscientiousness
Agreeableness
Agreeableness
Openness Conscientiousness

25. Common Ground?
2009 – Experiment showed that people
chose different leaders according to the
situation; masculine faces in times of war,
feminine faces during peacekeeping,
youthful faces during times of transition
Those with higher levels of Neuroticism are
more likely to vote for candidates they see
as tougher on their fears
Both parties value Conscientiousness most
highly of all the personality characteristics
(although more pronounced among
conservative voters)

26. Good Enough
Most leaders are…
… a little smarter
… a little taller
… a little heavier
… a little wealthier
YOU CAN DO IT!