Intelligence and leadership: A quantitative review and test of theoretical propositions
Abstract
Meta-analysis was used to aggregate results from studies examining the relationship between intelligence and leadership. One hundred fifty-one independent samples in 96 sources met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Results indicated that the corrected correlation between intelligence and leadership is.21 (uncorrected for range restriction) and.27 (corrected for range restriction). Perceptual measures of intelligence showed stronger correlations with leadership than did paper-and-pencil measures of intelligence. Intelligence correlated equally well with objective and perceptual measures of leadership. Additionally, the leader's stress level and the leader's directiveness moderated the intelligence-leadership relationship. Overall, results suggest that the relationship between intelligence and leadership is considerably lower than previously thought. The results also provide meta-analytic support for both implicit leadership theory and cognitive resource theory.
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General intelligence can become less important for the leader in certain situational contexts.
“Our point is that there is also evidence to suggest that, just as emotional intelligence effects can be contextdetermined, general intelligence can become less important for the leader in certain situational contexts.”
From Does leadership need emotional intelligence? (2009) · cites this paper as Judge, Colbert, and Ilies (2004)
General intelligence is a predictor of leadership effectiveness only when leaders are in low stress situations.
“Judge, Colbert, and Ilies (2004) enlisted principles of cognitive resource theory to make the case that general intelligence is a predictor of leadership effectiveness only when leaders are in low stress situations.”
From Does leadership need emotional intelligence? (2009) · cites this paper as Judge, Colbert, and Ilies (2004)
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- Authors
- Judge, T. A., Colbert, A. E., & Ilies, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida (US)
- University of Iowa (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Psychology
- Published
- 2004
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 542-552
- ISSN
- 0021-9010 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1854
- OpenAlex
- W2066644569
- Cited by
- 611
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 45 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 3.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Bocconi (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Leadership and Management in Organizations
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotional Intelligence and Performance
- Keywords
- intelligence, leadership, range restriction, perceptual intelligence, leader stress, implicit leadership theory
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Intelligence, Leadership, Models, Theoretical, Professional Competence
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