Now I don’t know about you but I’m sick to the back teeth of all of them blatherin on, on the radio, and the internet about the state of the nation and lack of leadership. We are, allegedly, a democracy although last week the goings on were far from democratic. For years we’ve been electing leaders but in recent times the process aint workin. Hypothetically of course, might it be possible to fit the right person to the right job and in this case the most important and difficult job in the country? Think outside the box (I know, I hate that aul jargon too! ). Why not advertise for the job? ‘Taoiseach wanted. Must have copious amounts of common sense. Should possess leadership qualities with a real commitment to learning and personal growth. Must be able to do sums. Preferably be creative. Experience not essential. On the job training will be provided. Salary negotiable for suitable candidate.’
The use of personality measures and ability tests for employee selection has expanded since the early 1990s. It is intimated by many psychologists that a person’s behaviour may be predicated with the benefit of a detailed account of that person’s psychological traits. Now, before the argument begins, for all those academics who say it can, there are as many who believe it cannot. Nonetheless, Costa and McCrae have made a nice packet out of their Big Five model, narrowing us all down to five traits (openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism ). Whether you believe it or not, it’s out there, in the ether. So if www.FindYourPrinceCharmingWhoLeavesTheToiletSeatDown.com uses psychometric personality testing to do a Lisdoonvarna on would-be couples, why don’t we, as a country, advertise for candidates and whittle them down using similar measures? However, leadership is hard to define. We need a worthy leader, with the capacity to lead, direct and inspire in a manner that has merit, integrity and esteem. Do all that but with a vision. And be sound as a pound as well. So, is there a relationship between leadership and personality and ability? It is intimated there is, with much emphasis on extraversion, conscientiousness, openness and intelligence. The link between empathy and leadership is less investigated than other traits but should not be discounted. Surely an empathic leader is what we’ve been missing, someone who can listen to what others say and have the ability to read accurately the reactions of others. This leadership business is a complicated matter and even if the potential candidates had the smarts to do the job could they learn the woolly empathic stuff? Now ability (intelligence ) is another kettle a’ fish. Ability tests, I would agree, are indeed contentious. Nevertheless, the right person would need the ability to assimilate and interpret large volumes of complex information. On the other hand these intelligence tests, it could be said, do not allow for divergent thinking and what we really need now is a creative open leader, surely. So why don’t we give it a try? What have we got to lose. We’re crocked anyway. ‘Wanted. Worthy leader.’ You’d never know who might surface.
Anne Joyce McCarthy is chief bottle-washer, wife of one, mother of three (eleven year old boy,
eight-year-old twin girls ), student, newbie blogger and occasional jogger. Originally from Corrib Park, Galway, she moved from Galway
to Oxfordshire with her family.
