Assessing Leadership Style: Trait Analysis

William Jefferson Clinton's Psychology

Clinton seemed to be unequivocal when saying, "I want to again say
that I take full responsibility for what has happened here" (1993 a,
1028). What was he taking responsibility for? He was taking
responsibility for the fact that, among other matters, he hadn't read,
and by implication was not aware of, Guinier's controversial racial
views.

Competition

Clinton's psychology combines an intense desire to accomplish with
a highly competitive nature. This trait has been part of his behavior
from childhood and has been observed over many years of Clinton's
life in differing contexts.
Individuals vary substantially in the degree to which they derive
satisfaction from triumphing over others, from winning, or from
accomplishing the goal itself. For some people, the enjoyment of
what they accomplish outweighs whatever satisfaction they receive
from winning or beating others. For others the reverse is true. In
Clinton's psychology the three types of satisfaction are closely
linked. His desire to win by having things done totally his way sug-
gests that his reputation as a man too ready to compromise is not
always deserved.

Achievement

By a number of different measures, Clinton is highly motivated to

achieve. Ambition is the foundation of achievement but is not syn-

onymous with it. There must be a match between the level of one's

ambition and the level and applicability of the skills one has to

accomplish it. Ordinarily, a strong need for achievement is a desir-

able trait in a president. A president who lacks a desire to achieve

will also lack a strong sense of what he wants to accomplish and the

conviction to follow through, resulting in presidential drift. There

are, however, costs involved in having too much achievement moti-

vation (Winter 1995, 127-28).

One of the most important questions here is how a president

defines accomplishment. How much is "good"? How much is

"enough"? What functions does accomplishment serve in the presi-

dent's overall psychology?

The combination of intense ambition, high self-confidence, and

strong self-regard leads Clinton to be very directed toward achieve-