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Character and Competence: A Prototype Analysis of Good Leadership in UK Business

Author

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  • Rebecca Park
  • Edward Brooks
  • Liz Gulliford

Abstract

This article explores the place of leader character in implicit leadership theories (ILTs) and the features of character and competence that are constitutive of good leadership as it is perceived by employees in business organizations. We focus on what it means to be a good leader, recognizing that good can be understood in relation to ethics or effectiveness or both. Our aim is to investigate the relative importance of character-related aspects (ethics) and competence-related aspects (effectiveness) of implicit leadership theories in business organizations. To investigate inductive perceptions of “good leadership,” we conducted a two-study prototype analysis, surveying 1,158 UK business employees across 37 different companies. Our findings (i) present three types of good leadership attributes: professional competencies, interpersonal competencies, and character qualities; (ii) demonstrate the importance of character qualities in ILTs alongside interpersonal and professional competencies; and (iii) reveal how perceptions of these categories differ between leadership level, gender, and sector. We discuss implications for research into ILTs and leader character.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Park & Edward Brooks & Liz Gulliford, 2026. "Character and Competence: A Prototype Analysis of Good Leadership in UK Business," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(3), pages 333-352, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:mimoxx:v:56:y:2026:i:3:p:333-352
    DOI: 10.1080/00208825.2026.2644539
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