REply to discussion
*Kendra
DQ POST WEEK 1
An examination of the trait and skills leadership approach
Examination of the trait approach to leadership
Northouse (2022) defines traits as a set of unchanging, inherent and distinct characteristics, qualities and attributes that comprise the human personality. Matokhniuk, et al (2020), further elaborates that the human personality is an extremely deep concept that consists of features and psychological traits that are combined in its individuality or originality, which distinguishes it from other people. In studying the traits approach it is evident traits are the qualities that shape and define a person’s leadership style and ultimately influences the leadership process. The five major leadership traits: intelligence, self-confidence, determination, integrity, and sociability (Northouse, 2022, pp.32-34) are the traits I believe are vital in developing sustainable organizations and increased work efficacy.
The Trait of Intelligence
Matokhniuk, et al (2020) conducted a study of women in the military profession in the Ukraine armed forces. There were 10 psychological parameters Ukranian servicewomen had to have in addition to 23 personal traits. Among the 23 traits required were extensive knowledge, competence, self-confidence, persistence, and rapport. They were also required to have a high level of general intelligence and verbal abilities (Matokhniuk et al., 2020). The trait of intelligence is seen to be a trait gifted to man by God. As a leader and king appointed to build the house of God, Solomon was endowed with wisdom and intelligence (King James Bible, 1769/2017, 2 Chronicles 2:12).
Examination of the skills approach to leadership
A skill defined is the ability to use one’s knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Based on the text a leader’s skills are developed over time, but traits are innate and do not change. Ann Wong the director of the Defense Acquisition Leadership Center debuted a Leadership Journey Tree (Wong & Briggs, 2024) as a framework to illustrate the path of leadership growth over a career. Northouse (2022) summarizes the three-skill approach into three categories: technical, human, and conceptual; the importance of these skills varies at each management level. Merida (2015), captures the technical skills of Hiram of Tyre as he crafts articles for the Lord’s house (p.43). Wong and Briggs (2024) identify soft skills that are essential skills for every leader at every level: communication, listening, time management, problem solving, negotiating skills, and collaboration among others. These skills are reflective of human/interpersonal skills.
However, at the conceptual and upper/top management level visionary capabilities are central for strategic planning for an organization. Having visionary capabilities often mean doing front-end planning for projects so once implemented they can be evaluated (Ram and Dolla, 2023). King Solomon was a visionary and the appointed project manager to build the Lord’s temple. In I Kings 3:14 (King James Bible, 2017/1769) Solomon has a night vision where he is in communication with God concerning ruling over the nation of Israel. You also see the negotiations and collaboration of King Solomon throughout 1 Kings 4-7 (King James Bible, 2017/1769) to build. Strategic leaders/planners who possess visionary capabilities are the leaders who spearhead transformation, growth and sustainability of organizations through gifting and skill acquisitions.
References
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Links to an external site. (Original work published 1769)
Merida, T. (2015). Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings (D. Platt & D. Akin, Eds.). B&H Publishing Group.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Skill. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved 06/30/2024, from http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/skill
Northouse, Peter. (2022). Leadership: theory and practice. (9th ed.). Sage Publishing.
Matokhniuk, L., Shportun, O., Shevchuk, V., Khamaziuk, O., Savenko, K., Nikulin, M., Hrynko, R., & Miroshnichenko, V. (2020). Servicewomen’s Personal Traits. BRAIN: Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience, 11(3), 122–135. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/11.3/1Links to an external site.
Ram, J., & Dolla, T. (2023). Investigating the Leadership and Visionary Capabilities to Make Projects Resilient: Processes, Challenges, and Recommendations. Project Management Journal, 54(5), 523–542. https://doi.org/10.1177/87569728231164353Links to an external site.
Wong, A., & Briggs, M. (2024). Leadership Skills Are Essential for Everyone. Defense Acquisition, 53(1), 38–41.
*Reply to Clements
Leadership in terms of traits (Chapter 2).
The Trait definition of Leadership is centered on qualities, characteristics, and virtues that great leaders have and share. Stogdill contributed remarkably to leadership studies; in the first study (1948), he uncovered the leadership traits after scores (124) on how particular individuals became leaders over a forty-four-year span. The eight leadership traits he unpacked in his first study were: 1. Intelligence 2. Alertness 3. Insight 4. Responsibility 5. Initiative 6. Persistence 7. Self-confidence 8. Sociability. With time, it became clear that an individual does not become a leader merely because they passively possess these traits, i.e., Leadership is not a resource to be had; instead, Leadership is the result of an active dynamic relationship between a leader and the constituency, i.e., the group members, body or the people the leader serves.
In his second study (1974), after analyzing scores (163), he came to a broader, more comprehensive, and more balanced overview of Leadership; from this study, Stogdill came to assert that Leadership does not primarily determine Leadership but rather traits and situational factors were determiners and pointers to Leadership. The ten characteristics he identifies are (1) Drive for roles of responsibility, (2) Vigor and resilience in the pursuit of goals, (3) Risk-taking and resourcefulness in problem-solving, (4) Ability to exercise initiative, (5) Self-confidence and identity (6) Ownership of outcomes (7) Stress-handle (8) Capacity to tolerate frustration and delay (9) ability to influence other people (10) Capacity to design social interaction systems at a moment’s notice.
Case in point: The study was conducted with several school administrators, where 160 were asked to complete a survey, the spiritual leadership scale, and the inventory scale composed of five factors; the results showed traits that were high in assiduousness and low in neuroticism. School administrators are known to demonstrate higher levels of altruistic love, low levels of vision, and faith in Leadership, not without cause. From the descriptive to the inferential determination, one conclusion was reached, i.e., school administrators’ personality/leadership traits affect their vision, faith, altruistic love and overall Leadership. (Günay & Kiral, 2022).
Biblical Parallel/Application: A good example of a biblical figure with leadership traits from early on would be Solomon, the heir to David. Unlike his half-brother, self-appointed Adonijah (Merida, 2015. pp.7-9), Solomon portrayed what a biblical king looked like, conferred with the responsibility of keeping the commandments/covenant (Merida, 2015, p.12). This early disposition revealed certain leadership attributes/traits that would serve him well in his Leadership: assiduousness, humility, meekness, wisdom, and godliness, 1 Kings 2:1-46. Although Solomon had a great start, he showcases the weakness of leadership traits, as evidenced in his poor ending, buttressing the limitations of focusing merely on leadership traits. (Friedman & Friedman, 2019).
Leadership in terms of skills (Chapter 3).
Chapter 3 deals with Leadership by skills or Skill dimension/approach of Leadership. While leadership trait approaches are intrinsic and innate, skills approach leadership is application-oriented and involves problem-solving.
Case in point: Evidence abounds that when skillful leaders are allowed to lead, they employ their leadership skills to hold the position well. Take, for instance, Mike Epsy, the first African American to serve in Congress before Bill Clinton appointed him the United States Secretary of Agriculture in 1993. A careful exploration of the leadership traits he exhibited buttresses the idea that leaders have essential traits that help them be effective leaders (Malone, 2023).
Biblical Parallel/Application: One remarkable testimony about the Leadership of David in the book of Psalms states, “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” – (King James Version, Psalm 78:72). David set the path and example for his son and successor Solomon by way of example.
Bibliography
Friedman, Hershey H. and Friedman, Linda Weiser, What Went Wrong? Lessons in Leadership from Solomon, the Bible’s Wisest and Worst Ruler (February 20, 2019). Friedman, H. H. and Friedman, L. W. (2019). What Went Wrong? Lessons in Leadership from Solomon, the Bible’s Wisest and Worst Ruler. Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 12(1), 1–20, Baruch College Zicklin School of Business Research Paper No. 2019-03-03, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3338662 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3338662
Günay Süle, G., & Kiral, E. (2022). The Relationship between School Principals’ Personality Traits and Spiritual Leadership Level. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 9(4), 857–872.
Malone, D. (2023). Examining the Leadership Style of Mike Espy Using Key Leadership Traits. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, 20(2), 39–45. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?u…