Does personality predict leadership?
The belief that leaders are born with the right personality is old and persistent. Research offers a more nuanced answer: some traits help, none guarantee success and much of leadership can be learned.
The short answer
Personality traits are associated with leadership, but not strongly enough to predict who will be a good leader. A 2002 meta-analysis by Judge and colleagues found that extraversion was among the traits most consistently linked with leadership, with conscientiousness and openness also showing associations, while the overall relationship between personality and leadership was moderate. No Enneagram type has been shown to make better leaders.
Leadership emergence vs effectiveness
| Concept | Meaning | Personality's role |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership emergence | Being seen as a leader by a group | Visible traits like extraversion can help |
| Leadership effectiveness | Actually leading a team well | Traits help, but skills and context matter a lot |
What's actually going on
Groups often select leaders who speak up confidently, which gives an advantage to more extraverted people. That doesn't mean quieter people lead less effectively once in the role. Effectiveness depends on behaviors such as setting direction, supporting people, making decisions and adapting to situations. These behaviors can be developed by people of any personality.
Leadership strengths and risks by type
| Type | Possible leadership strength | Possible risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clear standards, integrity | Micromanaging |
| 2 | Supporting people | Avoiding tough decisions |
| 3 | Driving results | Neglecting wellbeing |
| 4 | Vision and authenticity | Moodiness affecting the team |
| 5 | Strategic thinking | Being distant |
| 6 | Anticipating risks | Indecision |
| 7 | Innovation, energy | Lack of follow-through |
| 8 | Decisiveness, protection | Dominating |
| 9 | Inclusiveness | Avoiding conflict |
Developing as a leader, whatever your type
- Identify one leadership behavior that doesn't come naturally.
- Seek feedback from your team about your impact.
- Build a team that complements your blind spots.
- Adapt your style to the situation rather than your comfort.
Context changes what good leadership looks like
A crisis may call for fast, directive decisions, while a creative project may need a leader who draws out ideas and tolerates ambiguity. The same person can be well suited to one situation and less so to another.
Leadership questions
What personality traits make a good leader?+−
Research links extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to leadership, but effects are moderate.
Are leaders born or made?+−
Both play a role; many leadership skills can be learned.
Which Enneagram type makes the best leader?+−
No type has been shown to be best; each brings different strengths and risks.
Can introverts be effective leaders?+−
Yes. Effective leadership depends on behaviors that people of any personality can develop.
Continue exploring
Explore The Enneagram explained: types, thinking and evidence
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Sources and further reading
- Journal of Applied Psychology (Judge, Bono, Ilies & Gerhardt, 2002) / PubMed: Personality and leadership: A qualitative and quantitative review
- The Enneagram Institute: The Nine Enneagram Type Descriptions
- Journal of Clinical Psychology / PubMed: The Enneagram: A systematic review of the literature and directions for future research