TY  - JOUR
A1  - Asselmann, Eva
A1  - Holst, Elke
A1  - Specht, Jule
T1  - Longitudinal bidirectional associations between personality and becoming a leader
JF  - Journal of personality
N2  - Objective
Leaders differ in their personalities from non-leaders. However, when do these differences emerge? Are leaders "born to be leaders" or does their personality change in preparation for a leadership role and due to increasing leadership experience? 

Method
Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study, we examined personality differences between leaders (N = 2683 leaders, women: n = 967; 36.04%) and non-leaders (N = 33,663) as well as personality changes before and after becoming a leader.

Results
Already in the years before starting a leadership position, leaders-to-be were more extraverted, open, emotionally stable, conscientious, and willing to take risks, felt to have greater control, and trusted others more than non-leaders. Moreover, personality changed in emergent leaders: While approaching a leadership position, leaders-to-be (especially men) became gradually more extraverted, open, and willing to take risks and felt to have more control over their life. After becoming a leader, they became less extraverted, less willing to take risks, and less conscientious but gained self-esteem. 

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that people are not simply "born to be leaders" but that their personalities change considerably in preparation for a leadership role and due to leadership experience. Some changes are transient, but others last for a long time.
KW  - Big Five
KW  - development
KW  - leadership
KW  - manager
KW  - occupational success
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12719
SN  - 0022-3506
SN  - 1467-6494
VL  - 91
IS  - 2
SP  - 285
EP  - 298
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Boston, Mass. [u.a.]
ER  -