The Personality of Traits in Shaping Leadership Behavior for Local Government Performance in IndonesianCases: Facet-Level Analysis

Abstract

Leadership can be examined from various perspectives, including personality. Although such studies have developed, understanding of how personality influences leadership behavior based on facet-level analysis remains underexplored. Knowledge about leadership is related to organizational performance, particularly in the public sector. The purpose of this study is to explain the association between personality and leadership behavior and the performance of local public institutions in Indonesia. A deductive approach was employed for hypothesis testing through a survey of village head leadership samples with 566 village apparatus respondents to explain 283 village heads in Indonesia. Data analysis using SEM Covariance-Based shows that behavior is influenced by personality. Neuroticism has a negative association with leadership behavior but not with organizational performance. Emotional instability inhibits public leadership effectiveness. Each personality dimension has a positive association with leadership behavior but not with organizational performance. Facet-level analysis reveals differences in strength between traits—something often overlooked in previous studies. The study results expand understanding of assumptions in Upper Echelons Theory according to new empirical evidence in the local context that leader behavior becomes a key mechanism linking personality with organizational performance. Selection and development of local leaders should consider personality profiles of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.