Resume
Personality Correlates of Leadership Judgement in a Military Context
pplk. Ing. Petr Urban, MBA, University of Defence, Faculty of Military Leadership, Department of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities
PhDr. Mgr. Soňa Šrobárová, Ph.D., MBA, Ed.D., St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work in Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Ing. Zdeněk Mikulka, B.Th., Ph.D., MSc., University of Defence, Faculty of Military Leadership, Department of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities
PhDr. Radek Mitáček, Ph.D., University of Defence, Faculty of Military Leadership, Department of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities
Abstract
This study examined whether job-relevant personality characteristics are associated with situational leadership judgement and whether leadership judgement differs across groups with varying professional experience. Using a cross-sectional correlational-comparative design, we assessed N = 30 participants from a military education and training context, divided into three groups (Students, ZVSK, VVSK; n = 10 each). Leadership decision-making was measured using the Leadership Judgement Indicator (LJI), providing indices of leadership-style preferences (directive, consultative, consensual, delegative) and judgement adequacy. Personality characteristics were assessed using the Bochum Personality Inventory (BIP) at trait and domain levels. Pearson correlations and one-way ANOVA were used (α = 0.05). Results indicated selective, small-to-moderate trait-level associations: Sensitivity and Sociability were positively related to consultative preference (r = 0.376, p = 0.041; r = 0.372, p = 0.043) and to decision-control orientation (r = 0.391, p = 0.033; r = 0.450, p = 0.013). Mobility was negatively associated with task-oriented decision orientation (r = −0.387, p = 0.035). In contrast, broad BIP domains showed weak and non-significant relationships with LJI indicators. Group comparisons revealed a significant difference in delegative preference (F = 4.225, p = 0.025, η² = 0.238), with Students scoring higher than ZVSK (p = 0.019). A pronounced experience-related effect emerged for directive judgement adequacy (F = 9.553, p = 0.001, η² = 0.414), where Students scored substantially lower than both professional groups (p < 0.001). Overall, findings support judgement-based models of leadership by showing that personality relates to leadership judgement selectively, while judgement adequacy – especially for directive decisions – appears to be strongly shaped by professional experience.
Keywords: leadership judgement, situational judgement tests, decision-making styles, job-related personality, Bochum Personality Inventory (BIP), Leadership Judgement Indicator (LJI), military leadership training, leadership development.