The New Psychology of Leadership

Posted: 19 Oct 2007

The August/September edition of Scentific Amercian Mind presented some recent research which points to secrets of effective leadership that radically challenges convential wisdom.

Among their findings the researchers have discovered the "the notion of projecting winning charisma, sharp integlligence and an aura of absolute authoirty..." are not the keys to leadership. "Researchers who study leadership say those traits are not the ultimate keys to greatness...heads of state and bosses alike must work to understand the values and opinions of their citizens or team members. The goal is a dialogue about what hte group embodies and stands for-and thus how it should act. The best leaders, therfore shape what their followers wnat to do by moulding the group's identity in ways that promote (the group's) agenda."
Three key findings of the researchers were:
1. "A new psychology suggest that effective leaders must understand the values and opinions of thier followers-rather than assuming absolute authority-to enable a productive dialogue with team members about what the group stands for and thus how it should act.
2. According to a new approach, no fixed set of personality traits can assure good leadership because the most desirable traits depend on the nature of the group being led.
3. Leaders who adopt this strategy must try not only to fit in with theri group but also to shape the group's identity in a way that makes their own agenda and policies appear to be an expression of that identity."
The article continues: "When a shared identity exists, individuals who can best respresent that identity will have the most influence over the gruop's members and be the most effective leaders. That is, the best leaders are prototypical of the group- they not only seem to bleong to it but also exemplify what makes the group distinct from and superior rival groups...anything that sets leaders apart from the group can compromise their effectiveness."