LEADERSHIP QUALITY PSYCHOLOGY TEST

ADMINISTRATION

JITHU BABU

Kodumplavil (H); Pizhaku (P.O)

Kottayam- 686651
jithubabu@gmail.com
Ph: 8593047123

ABSTRACT
Leadership is often considered as the ability to influence a group of people
towards the achievement of goals. Leadership is an integral part of social life and
social process. Any group, association, organization or community functions the way
its leader leads. According to Merriam-Webster Inc., a leader is defined as a person
who has commanding authority or influence. This definition, however, is very vague
as well as void of the important individuality that each person brings to the concept of
leadership. It is for this reason that the qualities of a good leader are difficult to
define. Each individual comes to the table with different leadership styles,
experiences, and philosophies. What is important is that each leader takes the time to
evaluate not only his/her own leadership strengths and weaknesses, but also the needs
and dynamics of the group with which they will be working. The exercises here will
help you to determine what leadership skills are important to you and what kind of
leader you may be or want to become.

ARTICLE

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 Often times the most influential leaders in our lives are not famous or well
known. They are ordinary people who do extraordinary things (no matter how small)
and make an indelible impact in our lives. These are the true people in our lives that
we look up to. Take some time to think about these phenomenal people. Why do you
look up to them? What qualities do they exhibit that make them invaluable leaders in
your life? How do you want to emulate them? Thinking through this activity will
allow you to develop a list of leadership qualities that you feel are important to
possess to be a good leader.
Leadership is a process of leading people in the right direction in order to
achieve goals. Leadership occurs when one person includes others to work towards
some predetermined objectives. The one who leads or directs people to realize a goal
is the leader. In other words, leader is one who succeeds in getting others to follow
him. In the words of the Former President of India, A. P. J Abdul Kalam, leadership
is an ability to inspire other people with a dream. In short leadership is the art of
influencing and directing people in such a way that will win their obedience,
confidence, respect and loyal co-operation in achieving common objectives.

Styles of Leadership

The term Leadership Style refers to the particular way in which a leader guides
a group or team to realize its goals. A leadership style is a leader's style of providing
direction, implementing plans, and motivating people. It is the result of the
philosophy, personality, and experience of the leader. Rhetoric specialists have also
developed models for understanding leadership. Different situations call for different
leadership styles.

In an emergency when there is little time to converge on an agreement and

where a designated authority has significantly more experience or expertise than the
rest of the team, an autocratic leadership style may be most effective; however, in a
highly motivated and aligned team with a homogeneous level of expertise, a more

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democratic or Laissez-faire style may be more effective. The style adopted should be
the one that most effectively achieves the objectives of the group while balancing the
interests of its individual members. There are four major styles of leadership:
1. Autocratic Leadership: - Complete power with the leader. Autocratic
leader expects to be obeyed by other people and do not care about their
opinions and feelings.

2. Democratic Leadership: - The style of leadership where power is

derived from and shared among group members. Democratic leaders are
very co-operative and accommodating.

3. Laissez Leadership: - Literally means, leave alone, act freely. Leader

does not interfere with the freedom of group members and plays only a
passive role. Gives complete freedom to group members to take
decisions of their own with regards to their role on the group.

4. Bureaucratic Leadership: - Leader guides the entire group by following

rules and procedures accurately and consistently. Leader focuses on
policy and procedures and seeks to keep things fair and well- organized.

Below added is a list of potentially successful leadership traits. It is nearly

impossible for any leader to represent all of these qualities together in their work;
however you the list may be used as a guide to those qualities seen as successful and
important for strong leadership. It is also important to recognize that in and of
themselves, these traits do not make a leader. Rather it is how you shape and develop
these qualities that allow you to successfully lead others.

LEADERSHIP QUALITY ANALYSIS - TOOL

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 Given below are a few statements indicating leadership qualities of students.
Read each item carefully and select your response that you think suits your opinion
the best, from the options given.

S May
STATEMENTS Yes No
l. No. Be

I believe I have a desirable social

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behavior

Becoming a class leader is a

2
fortune in my opinion

I like to spend my time with and

3
for my friends
I am able to keep secrets and
4
wont reveal; tem unnecessarily
I would like to hear suggestions
5 from others and take it into
consideration
I am able to empathize and
6 sympathize with my friends in their
problems
I never feel frustrated when
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given additional responsibilities

I am ready to shoulder my
8
responsibilities with others if necessary

I would voluntarily participate in

9
different competitions

1 I can volunteer myself to solve

0 problems in my class
1 I give prominence to the needs
1 of others than mine

1 I have the ability to take the

2 correct decisions on time

4
 1 I would like to lead my team in
3 games
1 My peers often approach me to
4 solve problems
I feel confident to take up my
1
academics as well as leadership
5
responsibilities together, hand in hand
1 I think a leader has to be capable
6 to take up more and more challenges

1 I consider group cohesiveness as

7 an important factor

1 I always try to become a role

8 model as a leader for my friends
I have confidence that I can do
1
the duties assigned to me by my
9
authorities
I think that a good leader should
lead the way but at the same time also
2 should be the one who is ready to accept
0 the suggestions and ideas of other if
they are better than my ideas without
egoistic feeling.

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Since each student was provided with three options to be selected in the given
Leadership Quality Assessment tool, each option was provided with specific marks for
the easiness and accuracy of analysis and study of the collected data. The marks
allotted to each option were as follows:
a) Yes - 5 marks

b) May Be 3 marks

c) No 1 mark

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 Each student was to select the option that he/she thought was appropriate for
them. Based on their selection marks were calculated using the above given scoring
guideline. The following table represents the marks thus scored by each student
according to the data provided by them. The maximum possible score was determined
as 100 and the least possible score was 20.
Table Representing Marks Scored By Each Student
Sl. MARKS
NAME OF STUDENTS
No. OBTAINED
1 AKHILA GEORGE 63

2 ALPHONS THOMAS 68
ANISHA MARIA
3 56
THOAMS
4 ATHIRA 68

5 JITHU BABU 57

6 GREESHMA MOHAN 88

7 GOPIKA K. S 82

8 LAKSHMIPRIYA JAIRAJ 47

9 MANEESHA VARGHESE 45

We then divided the score into various classes/groups so as to find who was
leading. The classes/groups are as follows:-
a) Those who selected Yes (Excellent Leadership Quality)

b) Those who selected May Be (Average Leadership Quality)

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 c) Those who selected No (Below Average Leadership Quality).

Based on this idea we divide the responses into four class intervals: -
a) 0-25 and 25-50 comprising the students with Below Average Leadership
Quality

b) 50-75 comprising the students with Average Leadership Quality

c) 75-100 comprising the students with Excellent Leadership Quality

CLAS FRREQUEN MID - CUMULA

fx
S INTERVAL CY POINT TIVE FEQUENCY

0-25 0 12.5 0 0
25-50 2 37.5 75 2
31
50-75 5 62.5 7
2.5
17
75-100 2 87.5 9
5
56
TOTAL
2.5

Graphical Representation of the Marks Scored

Leadership Quality Bar Diagram

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5
4
4
3
FREQUENCY 3
2
2
1
1
0
0
2 5 2

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 Self-confidence encompasses the traits of high self-esteem,
assertiveness, emotional stability, and self-assurance. Individuals that are self-
confident do not doubt themselves or their abilities and decisions; they also have the
ability to project this self-confidence onto others, building their trust and commitment.
Integrity is demonstrated in individuals who are truthful, trustworthy, principled,
consistent, dependable, loyal, and not deceptive. Leaders with integrity often share
these values with their followers, as this trait is mainly an ethics issue. It is often said
that these leaders keep their word and are honest and open with their cohorts.
Sociability describes individuals who are friendly, extroverted, tactful, flexible, and
interpersonally competent. Such a trait enables leaders to be accepted well by the
public, use diplomatic measures to solve issues, as well as hold the ability to adapt
their social persona to the situation at hand. According to Howell, Mother Teresa is an
exceptional example that embodies integrity, assertiveness, and social abilities in her
diplomatic dealings with the leaders of the world.
Few great leaders encompass all of the traits listed above, but many have the
ability to apply a number of them to succeed as front-runners of their organization or
situation. Still leadership and leadership qualities are inevitable in individual as well
as society life.

References
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9010.92.2.347.PMID 17371083. 2007. Web.
3. Judge, T. A.; Bono, J. E.; Ilies, R.; Gerhardt, M. W. (2002). "Personality and
leadership: A qualitative and quantitative review". Journal of Applied

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 Psychology. 87(4): 765780. doi:10.1037/0021-
9010.87.4.765.PMID 12184579. Web.
4. Kenny, D. A.; Zaccaro, S. J. "An estimate of variance due to traits in
leadership". Journal of Applied Psychology. 68 (4): 678
685. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.68.4.678. 1983.Web.
5. "Leadership Qualities." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc. 22 July 2015. Web. 20 August. 2015. Web.