2.4 Observational Exercise
Leadership Traits
Purpose
1. To gain an understanding of the role of traits in the leadership process
2. To examine the traits of selected historical and everyday leaders
Directions
1. Based on the descriptions of the historical leaders provided in the chapter, identify the three
major leadership traits for each of the leaders listed as follows.
2. Select and briefly describe two leaders in your own life (e.g., work supervisor, teacher, coach,
music director, business owner, community leader). Identify the three major leadership traits of
each of these leaders.
Historical leaders The leader’s three major traits
Harriet Tubman 1. ________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________
Winston Churchill 1. ________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________
Mother Teresa 1. ________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________
Bill Gates 1. ________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________
Oprah Winfrey 1. ________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________
LeBron James 1. ________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________
Everyday leaders
Leader 1 ________________________________________________________________________________________
Brief description
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Traits 1.________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________
Leader 2 ________________________________________________________________________________________
Brief description
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.5 Reflection and Action Worksheet
Leadership Traits
Reflection
1. Based on the scores you received on the Leadership Traits Questionnaire, what are your
strongest leadership traits? What are your weakest traits? Discuss.
2. In this chapter, we discussed six leadership figures. As you read about these leaders, which
leaders did you find most appealing? What was it about their leadership that you found
remarkable? Discuss.
3. As you reflect on your own leadership traits, do you think some of them are more “you” and
authentic than others? Have you always been the kind of leader you are today, or have your traits
changed over time? Are you a stronger leader today than you were five years ago? Discuss.
Action
1. If you could model yourself after one or more of the historical leaders we discussed in this
chapter, whom would you model yourself after? Identify two of this leader’s traits that you could
and should incorporate into your own style of leadership.
2. Although changing leadership traits is not easy, which of your leadership traits would you like to
change? Specifically, what actions do you need to take to change your traits?
3. All of us have problematic traits that inhibit our leadership but are difficult to change. Which
single trait distracts from your leadership? Since you cannot easily change this trait, what
actions can you take to “work around” this trait? Discuss.