Central European Business Review 2017, 6(1):5-25 | DOI: 10.18267/j.cebr.170

The Interplay between Leadership and Team Performance: An Empirical Investigation in a Major Swiss HR Consulting Firm

Daniel Seelhofer1, Gianni Valeri2
1 Daniel Seelhofer, Department of International Business, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Management and Law, Stadthausstrasse 14, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland, seda@zhaw.ch
2 Gianni Valeri, Managing Director Switzerland, StaffFinder, gianni.valeri@stafffinder.jobs

This paper reports the results of an empirical examination of leadership traits and behaviors that contributed to team performance in a major Swiss HR consulting firm. Based on personality tests, survey research, and in-depth interviews, results indicate that, in the context of the company's sales-driven, high-pressure environment, personality factors such as conscientiousness or detail-orientation seem to be better predictors of leadership success than extraversion and openness to experience. Female leaders overall outperformed their male counterparts, and experience was found to significantly contribute to superior performance. Implications for hiring, development, and succession practices are discussed.

Keywords: leadership; trait research; personality; human resources
JEL classification: M5

Received: December 12, 2016; Revised: February 15, 2017; Published: March 31, 2017  Show citation

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Seelhofer, D., & Valeri, G. (2017). The Interplay between Leadership and Team Performance: An Empirical Investigation in a Major Swiss HR Consulting Firm. Central European Business Review, 6(1), 5-25. doi: 10.18267/j.cebr.170
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