Analysis of the characteristics for the formation of leaders in strategic management

Leadership development aims to meet the need for skilled, integrated individuals who are committed to the planning and vision proposed in strategic management. The success of organizations depends on human capital, which requires investment and attention in this area. The identification of inherent leadership characteristics was carried out through an online questionnaire with 100 randomly selected individuals. The questionnaire was divided into specific questions for leaders and those they lead, in order to analyze the existing profiles of current leaders and those desired by their followers. Opinions separated by gender were also investigated. The results highlighted the importance of developing internal leaders, given the essential knowledge and experience in their respective fields. Developing employees with potential for future leadership meets this demand, as they possess experience within the organization and, through investment in professional development courses, will increase their knowledge. The importance of raising awareness among current leaders to develop these new leaders was emphasized, particularly by analyzing their profiles, guiding them, and motivating them. The fact that the leader is firm and confident in their decisions stood out among the followers, given that this characteristic generates integrity, responsibility, and reliability, which were the most frequently mentioned in the research. The biggest differences between genders were that female leaders declared themselves more attentive to their followers, responsible, and with integrity, while male leaders rated themselves as more innovative. Female followers considered the leader responsible and caring for the team to be more important, while male followers valued the leader's impartiality more.