Character matters

Regarding character, the new psychology of leadership introduces questions about the degree to which leaders must change their own values or perceptions of their values to give the impression of fitting with the social identity.

For example, in a contentious meeting in which a school district superintendent solicited public input about the type of person they wanted to replace a controversial high school principal, a teacher declared that “leadership” was the most important thing she wanted from a new principal. The audience cheered and nodded in agreement. The unity collapsed when a parent asked, “We all seem to be saying we want a leader, but what does that mean? What is leadership?” The competing factions—teachers, parents, unions, special interests—could not agree on the definition of “leadership” because they all wanted someone who would represent the special interests of their political faction against others.

A regional PTA leader attempted to calm the contention by gaining the floor to declare, “a leader is someone who figures out what line everyone else is in, cuts in front, and says ‘follow me.’” To this person, an effective leader is a chameleon, a person who can identify and conform to the norms and demands of the dominant political faction. Her platitude caused a momentary pause as many heads nodded in agreement. However, an audience member commented that the PTA leader seemed to be using a cliché to describe a cowardly chameleon who would conform to the dominant special interest group when the community seemed to need a courageous leader who is willing and able to unite a divided community around building effective academic programs for students—not to conform to the interests of the most powerful special interest groups.

No consensus came from that meeting, and district administrators made the ultimate hiring decision behind closed doors. However, in addition to demonstrating the challenge of defining leadership, the meeting demonstrated how followers look for leaders who represent them and their interests against others.