Research
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CHAPTER 5
Leader Traits and Attributes
Stephen J. Zaccaro Cary Kemp Paige Bader
T
he concept of leader traits and attributes is indeed an old one, predating the scientific study of leadership and reaching back into antiquity, across several early civilizations (Bass, 1990; Zaccaro, in press). For example, in Chinese literature from the 6th century B.C., Lao-tzu described the qualities of effective leaders (Hieder, 1985). The wise leader, according to Lao-tzu, was to be selfless, hardworking, honest, able to time the appropriateness of actions, fair in handling conflict, and able to “empower” others (to use a more current vernacular). Early and medieval mythology (e.g., Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey; Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the King) focused on the attributes of heroes, whereas biblical writing emphasized wisdom and service to others as leadership qualities. Plato’s Republic (1960) emphasized that in the ideal nation-state, effective leaders used reasoning capacities and wisdom to lead others. He offered a lifelong “assessment plan” to help select such leaders (the first leader selection program?). His student Aristotle argued in Politics (1900) that leaders were to help others seek virtue; they would do so by themselves being virtuous. He offered a plan for educating future governors (the first leader development program?). Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Prince
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(1513/1954), defined power and the ability of leaders to understand social situations and to manipulate them in the practice of leadership as key leader attributes. Contrary to Aristotle, Machiavelli suggested slyness as a leader attribute, prescribing that leaders use less than virtuous means of gaining power and social legitimacy if more virtuous means were inadequate. Bass (1990) noted in his review that notions about leader qualities could
11/26/03 5:07 PM
Page 101
CHAPTER 5
Leader Traits and Attributes
Stephen J. Zaccaro Cary Kemp Paige Bader
T
he concept of leader traits and attributes is indeed an old one, predating the scientific study of leadership and reaching back into antiquity, across several early civilizations (Bass, 1990; Zaccaro, in press). For example, in Chinese literature from the 6th century B.C., Lao-tzu described the qualities of effective leaders (Hieder, 1985). The wise leader, according to Lao-tzu, was to be selfless, hardworking, honest, able to time the appropriateness of actions, fair in handling conflict, and able to “empower” others (to use a more current vernacular). Early and medieval mythology (e.g., Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey; Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the King) focused on the attributes of heroes, whereas biblical writing emphasized wisdom and service to others as leadership qualities. Plato’s Republic (1960) emphasized that in the ideal nation-state, effective leaders used reasoning capacities and wisdom to lead others. He offered a lifelong “assessment plan” to help select such leaders (the first leader selection program?). His student Aristotle argued in Politics (1900) that leaders were to help others seek virtue; they would do so by themselves being virtuous. He offered a plan for educating future governors (the first leader development program?). Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Prince
101
05-Antonakis.qxd
11/26/03 5:07 PM
Page 102
102——THE MAJOR SCHOOLS OF LEADERSHIP
(1513/1954), defined power and the ability of leaders to understand social situations and to manipulate them in the practice of leadership as key leader attributes. Contrary to Aristotle, Machiavelli suggested slyness as a leader attribute, prescribing that leaders use less than virtuous means of gaining power and social legitimacy if more virtuous means were inadequate. Bass (1990) noted in his review that notions about leader qualities could