| I will make the case that Leadership traits exist, | | | | the meaning of each factor, using terms or |
| and admit that the situation faced may call from | | | | adjectives for his sub-factors that others might |
| different traits or different application, or | | | | call Leadership Traits. |
| combinations of traits. Some scholars discount the | | | | Stogdill, discussed what other leadership scholar |
| value of traits in leaders, or their impact on | | | | have before and since called Traits, but he |
| individuals becoming successful and effective | | | | re-categorized them and called "factors" He |
| leaders. My published leadership and adversity | | | | instead as argued that the five individual Factors" |
| Doctoral research documents the value of | | | | with "sub-factors, existed, but that there was a |
| leadership traits for the sixteen prominent leaders | | | | sixth factor which was the specific situation itself. |
| that I personally interviewed who all overcame | | | | My Doctoral dissertation leadership research |
| adversity and became successful leaders, in spite | | | | clearly showed that there are a number of key |
| of their adversities, included: Dr. Tony Bonanzino, | | | | leadership traits or qualities. One of the key |
| Jack Canfield, William Draper III, U.S. Senator Orrin | | | | factors usually not included in the list of traits is |
| Hatch, Mark Victor Hansen, Monzer Hourani, U.S. | | | | the ability to overcome adversity. The ability of |
| Senator Daniel Inouye, J. Terrence Lanni, Dr. John | | | | leader to effective deal with adversity or |
| Malone, Angelo Mozilo, Larry Pino, Dr. Nido Qubein, | | | | obstacles was an important trait, according to the |
| U.S. Army Major General Sid Shachnow, Dr. John | | | | sixteen prominent leaders I interviewed on the |
| Sperling, Dr. Blenda Wilson, and Zig Ziglar. | | | | subject of leadership and adversity. One of my |
| My leadership and adversity research has been | | | | leading scholars that peer reviewed my leadership |
| peer debriefed, reviewed and agreed with by five | | | | research, Professor Jim Kouzes, said, as reported |
| internationally known, well respected leadership | | | | in my published Doctoral dissertation, that he |
| scholars, and best-selling authors: Dr. Ken | | | | generally they would agree with my research |
| Blanchard, Dr. John Kotter, Professor Jim Kouzes, | | | | finding statement that the adversity or obstacles |
| Dr. Paul Stoltz, and Dr. Meg Wheatley. | | | | in their adult lives was the most important event |
| My Doctoral dissertation research revealed that | | | | in their development as leaders. |
| sixteen prominent leaders specifically indentified as | | | | Stogdill did conducted a follow-up survey to his |
| number of leadership traits that they believed | | | | 1948 work of 163 individual leadership trait studies |
| were important in becoming a leader. My research | | | | and updated it through 1970. The resulting |
| revealed that, honesty and integrity were high on | | | | comparison of the 1948 and 1974 research was |
| their lists of the essential qualities of a leader. The | | | | reviewed in narrative form and then compiled into |
| sixteen prominent leaders and research | | | | table form, labeled with the six basic characteristic |
| participants shared an emphasis on the willingness | | | | types factors (traits) and multiple sub-categories |
| to serve those they lead and to be a humble | | | | sub-factors (sub-traits). |
| servant-leader. | | | | In his later work on leadership factors (aka |
| Under the umbrella of leadership traits, the notion | | | | leadership traits), Stogdill (1974) simply modified |
| of the importance of servant leadership and being | | | | his six basic characteristic types and expanded |
| a Humble Servant Leader (from my leadership | | | | them to include eight factor descriptions. One of |
| research) is repeated here because it remained a | | | | the key elements of the later review of |
| strong theme in the sixteen prominent leaders' | | | | characteristics was the inclusion of a much larger |
| interviews. The sixteen prominent leaders I | | | | percentage of survey information gathered much |
| interviewed all talked about the importance of | | | | more information or data from adults in the |
| caring about people and listening to their needs. | | | | working world. The trait study done by Stogdill |
| The participants emphasized that having clear and | | | | reviewed a series of trait studies done mostly on |
| consistent communication and willingness to share | | | | children or social groups, not usually on adults. |
| their vision, their objectives, and the tone of the | | | | Stogdill's original article has been repeatedly |
| journey was essential to their success as leaders. | | | | misquoted as evidence that personal traits have |
| They believe that having a complete and deep | | | | little significance or bearing on leadership. This |
| understanding of the business was needed to lead | | | | consistent and out-of-context misquoting, or |
| and succeed. They were quick to repeat the need | | | | simple misunderstanding, of his position, bothered |
| to be able to cope with adversity 'head-on,' | | | | Stogdill enough that he clarified that he did not |
| overcome obstacles, and view challenges as | | | | hold this view on the lack of importance of these |
| opportunities. | | | | traits. In fact, Stogdill, later specifically noted in |
| The question is: Are leadership traits real or a | | | | writing that his 1948 work had been cited |
| myth? Dozens of leadership authors (even some | | | | frequently as evidence in support of the view |
| well-known leadership scholars), and no I am not | | | | that leadership is entirely situational in origin and |
| going the specifically identify them by name, as it | | | | that no personal characteristics are predictive of |
| may cause some embarrassment, has specifically | | | | leadership. This view seems to overemphasize the |
| claimed that "leadership trait theory is dead," | | | | situational and underemphasize the personal nature |
| "leadership trait theory is out of step with the | | | | of leadership. He indicated that different leadership |
| mainstream of current academic scholars | | | | skills and traits are required in different situations. |
| thoughts in the field of leadership," or "recent | | | | The behaviors and traits enabling a mobster to |
| leadership research by noted scholars disagree | | | | gain and maintain control over a criminal gang are |
| with the concept there are traits of leaders." | | | | not the same as those enabling a religious leader |
| I found that the source of the misinformation | | | | to gain and maintain a large following. Yet certain |
| stems around an article by Stogdill which is | | | | general qualities, such as courage, fortitude, and |
| frequently misquoted or misinterpreted. Many | | | | conviction-appear to characterize both. |
| leadership writers, even some leadership scholars, | | | | How could Stogdill have not believed in the value |
| misquoted or misunderstood the article. But they | | | | and relevance of Leadership Traits, when Bass |
| have commented on his now sixty year old article | | | | and Stogdill (1990) concluded their chapter entitled |
| from his review and findings from various trait | | | | Traits of Leadership: A Follow-up with the |
| studies, relying on a prior interpretation, instead | | | | statement, "Evidence abounds about particular |
| going back the primary document. He is often | | | | patterns of traits that are of consequence to |
| cited as finding them contradictory or inconclusive. | | | | leadership." |
| Several authors have also stated that the | | | | Why did he and Bass devote three chapters on |
| well-respected late Professor Stogdill could not | | | | the Traits of Leadership, if he did not believe in |
| find a reliable and coherent pattern in the 120 trait | | | | them? |
| studies he initially reviewed. | | | | If any doubt remains, Bass summed up his |
| I re-read the entire 1948 article by Stogdill, and he | | | | position on the importance and transferability of |
| never made the statements that were attributed | | | | certain traits and attributes were transferable or |
| to him regarding his alleged opinion that Leadership | | | | situational. Even though Stogdill has been |
| Trait Theory is false or not true. I personally and | | | | misquoted by other scholars, the record shows |
| professional do not believe that that leadership | | | | that he and Bass, 1990, in their best-selling |
| theory is false or dead. | | | | Handbook of leadership reviewed the last century |
| I will proceed to counter and document the false | | | | of leadership research on traits or attributes which |
| information, or misinformation, that leadership | | | | they documented and footnoted in nine full |
| traits are untrue or invalid. Stogdill in his reporting | | | | chapters under the heading Personal Attributes of |
| of his leadership research, just instead used the | | | | Leaders |
| term Leadership Factors instead of Leadership | | | | My Doctoral dissertation leadership research |
| Traits. In the original article which was published in | | | | clearly shows that "leadership trait theory" is not |
| a 1948 issue of the Journal of Psychology, Stogdill | | | | dead or false. The leadership literature and my |
| discussed in detail the results of his leadership | | | | Doctoral dissertation leadership research seems to |
| foundation literature review and study, in which he | | | | indicate that traits alone are not enough, but that |
| found and published that certain factors (or traits) | | | | traits may be helpful, or even foundational, or a |
| which have been associated with leadership could | | | | precondition in the development of leadership. It |
| all probably be classified under the general | | | | may even be possible that a particular |
| headings of capacity, achievement, responsibility, | | | | combination of Traits, Factors, and Attributes for |
| participation, status, and situation.. | | | | a given situation may be a conditional precedent |
| Of particular note, what Stogdill's calls his | | | | to developing effective leadership. Leadership |
| Situational Factor (Situational Leadership Trait) is | | | | Traits (regardless of the term used) are clearly |
| very similar or comparable to the underpinnings of | | | | Not dead, just relabeled. |
| leadership philosophies such as servant-leadership, | | | | What is the real difference between leadership: |
| principle-centered leadership, or even | | | | Traits, Factors, and Attributes, it is really it just |
| transformation leadership. He explicated in detail | | | | scholarly semantics. |