TY - JOUR
T1 - Adding dynamics to a static theory
T2 - How leader traits evolve and how they are expressed
AU - Xu, Liguo
AU - Fu, Pingping
AU - Xi, Youmin
AU - Zhang, Lin
AU - Zhao, Xinyu
AU - Cao, Chunhui
AU - Liao, Ying
AU - Li, Guiquan
AU - Xue, Xian
AU - Ge, Jing
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - Leader's traits evolve over time and are expressed differently under different situations. To capture both the evolution and expression of leader traits, we propose a dynamic model. We argue that the evolution of traits consists of changes in intensity and nature. Based on data on five publicly acknowledged Chinese leaders collected from various sources, we identified three patterns (homological, converse, and composite) by which leader traits evolve. We also discovered that leader's traits can be intrinsic or extrinsic. The intrinsic traits change in intensity; whereas the extrinsic traits are replaced by other traits over time. Factors influencing these changes include both internal (e.g., leaders' own learning and introspection) and external (e.g., major social events and subtle cultural influences). The results of our study show that the traits leaders demonstrated under specific situations are composite in nature, which also supports the notion that traits evolve. Based on our finding, we generated a few propositions for future empirical studies.
AB - Leader's traits evolve over time and are expressed differently under different situations. To capture both the evolution and expression of leader traits, we propose a dynamic model. We argue that the evolution of traits consists of changes in intensity and nature. Based on data on five publicly acknowledged Chinese leaders collected from various sources, we identified three patterns (homological, converse, and composite) by which leader traits evolve. We also discovered that leader's traits can be intrinsic or extrinsic. The intrinsic traits change in intensity; whereas the extrinsic traits are replaced by other traits over time. Factors influencing these changes include both internal (e.g., leaders' own learning and introspection) and external (e.g., major social events and subtle cultural influences). The results of our study show that the traits leaders demonstrated under specific situations are composite in nature, which also supports the notion that traits evolve. Based on our finding, we generated a few propositions for future empirical studies.
KW - Leader trait
KW - Trait activation
KW - Trait evolution
KW - Trait expression
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919698316&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.leaqua.2014.10.002
DO - 10.1016/j.leaqua.2014.10.002
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84919698316
SN - 1048-9843
VL - 25
SP - 1095
EP - 1119
JO - Leadership Quarterly
JF - Leadership Quarterly
IS - 6
ER -