Elements of Leaders of Character: Attributes, Practices, and Principles

Hogue delineates what he acknowledges to be the largely intangible craft of leadership and to outline the necessary qualities of leaders. The gamut of leadership qualities includes both individual appeal and the ability to influence people en masse. Believing that leadership ability is learnable, Hogue concentrates on elucidating desirable character traits for leaders, and includes supporting quotes from notable people. His list of valuable accomplishments, however, is so voluminous that the exercise amounts to little more than a laundry list of desirable virtues. Hogue acknowledges that people can aspire to leadership with the intention of manipulating people, but emphasizes that the role of leaders as transformational agents is to improve society. Given this welter of possible motivations to lead, good character is an absolute bedrock. But many of the assertions are little more than imposing aphorisms: for instance, %E2%80%9CCharacter-based leadership is leadership with nothing but good and honorable motives and intentions.%E2%80%9D Hogue provides a mishmash of anecdotal assurances about the importance of leadership, and many of his arguments restate the obvious.