Leadership: Big Five Model

Big Five Model was initially developed by Ernest Tupes and Raymond Cristal (1961) is a comprehensive, empirical and data-driven research finding to identify the traits and categorized it into one of five dimensions which each dimension includes of multiple traits use to describe a person. The dimensions in Big Five Model are surgency, agreeableness, adjustment, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.

Figure 1: The interrelation between five dimensions in Big Five Model approach.

Surgency (extraversion)

The surgency (extraversion) personality dimension includes the trait of dominance which a personality trait of wanting to be in charge or leading, either by influencing others or competing with each others. Someone weak in surgency will become the followers.

Agreeableness

Is the opposite of surgency, where this personality includes traits related to getting along with other people. A person strong in this personality dimension will have behaviour likes warm, friendly and sociable while the weak normally cold, unfriendly and unsociable.

Adjustment (emotional stability)

Traits includes in this dimension are of that related to emotional stability where continuum between being emotionally stable (i.e. self-control, calm and relaxed) and unstable (i.e. out of control, nervous and feeling insecure).

Conscientiousness

The conscientiousness personality dimension includes traits related to achievement. A leader showing tendency for self-discipline, acts dutifully, and aim for achievement are included in this group. Conscientiousness is also on a continuum between responsible or dependable to irresponsible or undependable.

Openness-to-experience

This personality dimension includes traits related to being willing to change and try new things. People strong in this group are intellectually curious, more creative and have unconventional beliefs which contras to the weak who prefer more conventional and traditional interests.