Personality Traits, Self-Esteem, and Leadership Styles

The present study was aimed to investigate how the five dimensions of personality traits and self-esteem are related to the full range model of leadership styles, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Data were collected from 150 voluntary participants, using the Big Five Personality Test, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Northouse Leadership Style Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS and findings revealed association between personality traits, leadership styles and self-esteem. The personality trait Agreeableness showed strongest while Extraversion least relationship to leadership style. Transformational leadership style was related to the Agreeableness and Conscientiousness; Extraversion to Transactional leadership style and Neuroticism was related to both Transactional and Transformational leadership styles, while Openness associated to Laissez-Faire leadership style. Extraversion was strongest and Neuroticism was least related to self-esteem. Self-esteem was significantly different between Transformational and Laissez-Faire leadership styles. Transformational leadership style was predicted by Openness and Laissez-Faire leadership style by Extraversion; with no effect from self-esteem.