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58 PART 2: RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES ON LEADERSHIP
Leadership at Work

Your Ideal Leader Traits
Spend some time thinking about someone you believe is an ideal leader. For the first part
of the exercise, select an ideal leader you have heard about whom you don’t personally
know. It could be someone like Mother Teresa, Rudolph Giuliani, Martin Luther King,
Abraham Lincoln, or any national or international figure that you admire. Write the
person’s name here: ______________________________ . Now, in the space below, write
down three things you admire about the person, such as what he or she did or the quali-
ties that person possesses.

For the second part of the exercise, select an ideal leader whom you know personally.
This can be anyone from your life experiences. Write the person’s name here: _________
_____________________. Now, in the space below, write down three things you admire
about the person, such as what he or she did or the qualities that person possesses.

The first leader you chose represents something of a projective test based on what
you’ve heard or read. You imagine the leader has the qualities you listed. The deeds and
qualities you listed say more about what you admire than about the actual traits of the
leader you chose. This is something like an inkblot test, and it is important because the traits
you assign to the leader are traits you are aware of, have the potential to develop, and indeed
can develop as a leader. The qualities or achievements you listed are an indicator of the traits
you likely will express as you develop into the leader you want to become.
The second leader you chose is someone you know, so it is less of a projective test and
represents traits you have had direct experience with. You know these traits work for you
and likely will become the traits you develop and express as a leader.
What is similar about the traits you listed for the two leaders? Different? Interview
another student in class about traits he or she admires. What do the traits tell you about
the person you are interviewing? What are the common themes in your list and the other
student’s list of traits? To what extent do you display the same traits as the ones on your
list? Will you develop those traits even more in the future?

Leadership Development: Cases for Analysis

Consolidated Products
Consolidated Products is a medium-sized manufacturer of consumer products with
nonunionized production workers. Ben Samuels was a plant manager for Consolidated
Products for 10 years, and he was very well liked by the employees there. They were
grateful for the fitness center he built for employees, and they enjoyed the social activities
sponsored by the plant several times a year, including company picnics and holiday par-
ties. He knew most of the workers by name, and he spent part of each day walking around
the plant to visit with them and ask about their families or hobbies.