Week 5: Trait Theory/Implicit Leadership Theories

Topic: Trait Theory/Implicit Leadership Theories

Trait theory claims that 50% of difference in personality across people is due to genes and the other 50% is due to environment. It also examines how much size, personality, intelligence, etc. contribute to one’s perceived leadership. Likewise, implicit leadership theories include generalities about leadership and hypotheses about the types of qualities that characterize leaders; they often derive from cognitive processes which influence our perceptions of leaders such as traits, behaviors, contingencies, etc.

I have seen both these theories at play in my work. As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, Fareed, the film producer, has worked in the film industry for 20+ years and Aida, the film director, has been a journalist for 10+ years. Both have been successful in their respective careers, but at moments, I’ve seen Fareed be condescending toward Aida and I think this is due to his implicit perceptions of her.

I believe a number of factors are at play here: perceived intelligence/experience, personality, gender, traits, etc. First and foremost, when he exerts his opinion where a director should have the last say – I feel he is undermining Aida’s right/entitlement to her own opinion because he feels he has more film intelligence/experience than her. While this may be true, I think it is the role of a film crew to bring forth the director’s vision and keep in mind that all film, storytelling, art, etc. is subjective.

He said to her earlier this week, something along the lines of, “Okay, you can keep the edit that way… if you want to cater to yourself instead of the audience.” This was very demeaning and upsetting to witness as Aida who specializes in human rights journalism is very knowledgable on this topic — which is the topic of the film. She has spent two years following and interviewing the most renowned activists and justice coalitions in France; it is safe to say she knows her audience inside and out.

Furthermore, I hate to believe this is true – but I do believe gender is at play here. In the production house, there are four predominant crews working on films right now in the edit room; however, Fareed does not try to insert his opinion into any of the other (male) directors’ or (male) cinematographers’ work. I kid you not – the other day he explained 4k shooting to me and drew a stick figure on a piece of paper then folded the piece of paper to explain the concept of being able to crop in an image when shooting in 4k resolution – as if I hadn’t been shooting in 4k for the past year.

While I truly do think he is an incredibly knowledgable, experienced, and successful filmmaker, I believe his implicit biases/judgements about others whom he deems less intelligent or able than himself affects his work relationships. Though he may have good intentions, it comes off a bit condescending when he only directs it at the women in the room.