Personality Qualities of Successful Business Leaders in Ghana

Abstract

The gap which the current qualitative, phenomenological study sought to fill was to explore the critical personality characteristics top business executives need to possess to be able to lead corporate organizations more effectively. Data were obtained through email and face-to-face in-depth semi-structured interviews with 10 CEOs of the best performing public and private business companies (known as Ghana Club 100) in Ghana. The interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed employing transcendental phenomenological analysis (Moustakas, 1994). The following personality attributes emerged from the participants’ interviews which were found to support and promote strong executive effectiveness:  self-discipline, passion, self-confidence, integrity, openness to experience, adaptability, humility, emotional intelligence and maturity, big-picture orientation, and commitment to the growth of organizational members. Such knowledge could help to inform Board of Directors of Corporations in the selection, promotion, and training of executive-level managers, and potentially lower the costs associated with losing high-potential executive leaders. The findings of the present study could also help business schools, organizational psychologists and management consultants to focus better on preparing business leaders for the future. The current study is one of the first to be carried out in Ghana on leader personality traits.

Keywords: leadership personality qualities, effective business leadership characteristics, leadership development