The big five and effective leadership : a quantitative study on students' perception of the personality of an effective leader

Abstract

Research about leadership is constantly being conducted. The most common question put forward is: What traits distinguish leaders from other people? Consequently, this research study aims to explore the personality characteristics of an effective leader. 75 students from the University of Malta completed a questionnaire focusing on the perceived desirable Big Five personality characteristics, as well as the gender and leadership styles of an effective leader. The findings indicate that from the students’ points of view, the most desirable personality characteristics of an effective leader include high scores of Extroversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience, whereas a low score of Neuroticism is desirable. Furthermore, both genders are found to be considered as equally effective leaders, and the most desirable leadership styles from the students' perception are Transformational and Charismatic.