Leadership Styles and Personality Types

Abstract

Leadership is a common phenomenon on every level of life, even the church. Scholars regard leadership in the church as the most important aspect of church functionality.Some are of the opinion that church leadership became the decisive factor in determining the effectiveness of a church and the single most contributing factor that allows a church to develop its full potential. The purpose of this research is to investigate the possibility whether there is a correlation between a church leader‘s Personality type and his or her Leadership style. Each phase of the research represents a partial and independent unit, which in cohesion with the other units of this research contributes to the final research result.A literature study as well as an empirical research was done. The empirical research consisted out of semi-structured interviews as well as two surveys, the Malphurs Leadership Style Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.This research indicates that Pentecostal church leaders are of the opinion that a church leader‘s personality type does have a significant influence on a church leader‘s leadership style. This research also indicates that Pentecostal church leaders are of the opinion, based on their personal experience, that the work of the Holy Spirit in and through them, more than anything else has a significant influence on a Pentecostal church leaders leadership style and the ability to adapt their leadership style according to the challenges of the situation in which they have to lead.

Leadership is a common phenomenon on every level of life, even the church. Scholars regard leadership in the church as the most important aspect of church functionality.Some are of the opinion that church leadership became the decisive factor in determining the effectiveness of a church and the single most contributing factor that allows a church to develop its full potential. The purpose of this research is to investigate the possibility whether there is a correlation between a church leader‘s Personality type and his or her Leadership style. Each phase of the research represents a partial and independent unit, which in cohesion with the other units of this research contributes to the final research result.A literature study as well as an empirical research was done. The empirical research consisted out of semi-structured interviews as well as two surveys, the Malphurs Leadership Style Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.This research indicates that Pentecostal church leaders are of the opinion that a church leader‘s personality type does have a significant influence on a church leader‘s leadership style. This research also indicates that Pentecostal church leaders are of the opinion, based on their personal experience, that the work of the Holy Spirit in and through them, more than anything else has a significant influence on a Pentecostal church leaders leadership style and the ability to adapt their leadership style according to the challenges of the situation in which they have to lead.