THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY ORIENTATION AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP-BEHAVIOR

The following study was undertaken to explore the link between individ ual differences in personality orientation and subsequent leadership b ehaviours in the workplace. More specifically, relationships among two measures of personality and one measure of transformational-transacti onal leadership style were investigated using data collected from 253 senior executives (and their direct reports) from a highly diversified global corporation. After an initial examination of the personality v ariables using a correlational approach, a k-means cluster analysis wa s used to generate four distinct 'groups' based on the mean personalit y orientation or style exhibited. These groups were labelled according ly in order to reflect the dispositional characteristics among each cl uster of executives: (1) innovators for change or inventors; (2) analy tical coordinators or managers; (3) organized pragmatists or implement ors; and (4) enthusiastic idealists or motivators. Subsequent ANOVA mo dels using these cluster groups yielded significant differences with r espect to the perceptions of both executives and their direct reports of their leadership behaviour. In general, inventors and motivators we re found to be more transformational in their leadership style than ma nagers and implementers. These results are discussed in terms of the c haracteristics of each personality cluster and their respective linkag es to the leadership behaviours observed by self and others.