Applying Traits Theory of Leadership to Project Management

This research investigates the validity of the traits theory of leadership applied to project management and determines how it correlates to core project management competencies. Previous published work on traits theory of leadership primarily deals with organizational leadership, and not specifically with project leadership. Consequentially, although the previous work is useful in providing a good basis for this paper, additional research is required for application in the field of project management. The necessary data was gathered via researching modern literature on project leadership and through questionnaires sent to project managers with varying levels of project management experience. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate the individual's assessment of what core competencies a project manager should possess. In addition to the questionnaire, an online personality assessment was used to determine the participants' Meyers-Briggs (MBTI) personality type. The results of the literature research and the returned questionnaires clearly indicate that certain MBTI types have preferences that support project leadership, specifically, ISTJ, INFJ, INTJ, ENTP, ESTJ, ENFJ, and ENTJ, with INTJ, ESTJ, and ENTJ being the types containing the most traits that supported project leadership competencies.