The Qualities of Leadership: Direction, Communication, and Obfuscation

LSE PSPE Working Paper No. 1

41 Pages Posted: 14 Jan 2008

See all articles by Torun Dewan

Torun Dewan

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Department of Government

David P. Myatt

University of Oxford - Department of Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 2008

Abstract

Party activists wish to (i) advocate the best policy while (ii) unifying behind a party line. Activists learn about policy and the party line by listening to leaders. A leader's influence increases with her judgement on policy (sense of direction) and her ability to convey ideas (clarity of communication). A leader with perfect clarity enjoys greater influence than one with a perfect sense of direction. When activists choose how much attention to pay to leaders they listen only to the most coherent communicators. However, attention-seeking leaders sometimes obfuscate their messages, but less so when activists emphasize party unity.

Suggested Citation

Dewan, Torun and Myatt, David P., The Qualities of Leadership: Direction, Communication, and Obfuscation (January 2008). LSE PSPE Working Paper No. 1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1083815 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1083815

Torun Dewan (Contact Author)

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Department of Government ( email )

Northampton NN7 1NE
United Kingdom

David P. Myatt

University of Oxford - Department of Economics ( email )

Manor Road Building
Manor Road
Oxford, OX1 3BJ
United Kingdom