Personality and well-being changes in the years before and after becoming a leader

Leaders differ in their personality from non-leaders. However, do these differences come from selection effects (e.g., because specific traits predispose for occupational success) or from within-person trait changes before and after starting a leadership position? Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study, we examined personality differences between leaders (N = 2,683 leaders) and non-leaders (N = 33,663) as well as personality changes before and after becoming a leader. Already in the years before starting a leadership position, leaders-to-be differed in their personality from non-leaders. Moreover, leaders-to-be (especially men) became gradually more extraverted, open, willing to take risks, and felt to have more control over their life in the years before starting a leadership position (anticipation effects). In the years after this transition, they became less extraverted, less willing to take risks, and less conscientious but gained self-esteem (socialization effects). Our findings suggest that personality changes considerably in preparation for a leadership role and due to accumulating leadership experience. Some changes are transient, but others last for a long time. In this talk, I will present and discuss these findings and also speak about well-being changes in leaders(-to-be).