Personality traits differ from one person to another. There are, however, a number of personality traits that qualify for effective and successful leadership. Leaders should be agreeable in order to be able to relate well with people. Leaders should also strongly show that they are in charge so as to be able to command followership. In addition, it is important for leaders to be conscientious to achieve success in what they do. Moreover being open and experienced is an essential trait that enables the leader to welcome change and take risks. Also, a good leader should be able to adjust to challenging situations by being emotionally stable (Boleman, 2005).
Effective leaders have been associated with traits like being intelligent, flexible, honest, confident, emotionally stable, sensitive to others, enthusiastic, patient and determined. It is, however, important to note that not all effective leaders have all these traits. Effective leadership can be achieved through day to day learning and one’s ability to recognize their weaknesses and to work on them. There are many effective leaders who have become successful through hard work and determination to succeed (Mohr, 2000).
A positive trait can become or be perceived as a weakness depending on the situation under consideration. Specific situations have an influence on leadership. A person with particular traits may be a leader in one situation but not in another. A positive trait may also be perceived as a weakness depending on people’s perception of a specific leader. An action by a strong leader that can be done by other people perceived to be weaker than the leader may be seen as a weakness (Benjamin, 2014).
Leadership traits vary between cultures in that a multicultural leadership is more challenging and requires the leader to have a multicultural mindset through application of universal leadership principles. Effective international leaders should apply such principles as being visionary, servant leadership and ability to lead others into success.
In implementing these principles, the leader will need to adapt to the culture where the business is located, establish a vision for the organization while maintaining the business culture that favors business success and be able to promote growth and success in people by being humble and patient with their culture. For instance, the leader should be a good team player and desist from making hasty changes so that his or her decisions can be accepted with more ease (Rentfrow, 2007)
References
Benjamin, T. (2014). Can a Leader’s Positive Traits be Perceived as Weaknesses? Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved from. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/can-leaders-positive-traits- perceived-weaknesses-35697.html
Boleman, C. (2005). Personality Traits of Leaders: http://srpln.msstate.edu/seal/05curriculum/ses_3/personalitytraits-abst.pdf
Mohr, B. (2000). Leadership-Genetic or Learned? An Informal Analysis of “Born to Lead” vs. Personal Effort, Tenacity and Experience: Retrieved from. http://www.dau.mil/pubscats/pubscats/pm/articles00/mohrjf.pdf
Rentfrow, T. J. (2007). Effective Leadership within a Multicultural Environment: Regent University. Retrieved from. http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/lao/issue_10/rentfrow.htm
