Our idea of the “ideal” leader changes with the times, influenced by events and evolving values. Research from Northeastern University highlights how recent events reshaped Americans’ views on leadership. A series of eight surveys, conducted between October 2020 and January 2021, found that after the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the appeal of “masculinity” and “tyranny” in leaders dropped among both Democrats and Republicans.
The surveys asked 600 people—a balanced mix of Democrats, Republicans, and independents—to rate seven key traits in their ideal leader: charisma, dedication, dynamism, intelligence, masculinity, sensitivity, and tyranny. While charisma and intelligence were consistently valued, the appeal of “tyranny” was more complex. In some cases, people see a “tyrannical” leader as strong and decisive, willing to act without waiting for public approval. However, the surveys showed that most people now favor leaders who rank low on tyranny—a sign of changing times.
Context matters
Context matters in shaping these ideals. The close and charged 2020 election, with Joe Biden and Donald Trump representing starkly different approaches, highlighted this. When elections are tightly contested, and the stakes feel high, people often want leaders who match their fears or hopes about the future. “In a clear-cut election, people’s ideal leadership traits are more stable,” the researchers explained. “But in a close race like 2020, their preferences start to shift.”
Interestingly, the storming of the Capitol on January 6 didn’t change responses much. Instead, people’s views on masculinity and tyranny depended on whether they believed the election result was legitimate. Those who accepted the result showed a decline in support for both traits, while those who questioned it continued to prefer a more forceful, “tyrannical” type of leader.
The study reveals that our ideals of leadership aren’t set in stone. As society changes, so does our picture of the “ideal” leader, responding to the pressures and needs of the moment.
