Job attitudes in management: V. Perceptions of the importance of certain personality traits as a function of job level

Abstract

This study investigated managers' perceptions of the relative importance of 10 personality traits for success in their managerial roles, as a function of level of position within management. Data were obtained by means of a questionnaire in which the 10 traits were rank ordered in importance by over 1800 respondents from all parts of management and all types of companies. The 10 traits consisted of 5 Other-Directed or Organization Man type traits, and 5 Inner-Directed type traits. Results showed that Inner-Directed traits were perceived as more important at each higher level of management and thereby Other-Directed traits were seen as more important at each lower level of management. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)