Evaluation of a personal growth model for leadership development

Ph.D.Abstract: The demand to grow as a person, or to develop character, is a central issue in leadership and is quite evident in literature. Salient to leadership, therefore, are the subjects of what one is (being) and how to develop what one is, which is often expressed as ‘to grow as a person’. Being development is more than behaviour change; it encompasses what one is and what one can become. Being development is consequently not an effort to apply a layer of veneer or to put on a mask to win friends and influence people. Hence, the researcher supports the notion that being development is essential in the cultivation of successful leaders. The literature exploration focused on how growth come about in human beings by exploring various behavioural change theories and models that are connected to being development, and resultantly linked to the importance of leadership development. The literature revealed the presence of six theoretical elements of being development, namely Vision, Plan and Evaluate, Acquire Competencies, Manage the Environment, Manage the Self, and Transcendence Exercise. The presence of these six elements in an individual’s life suggested being development or a growing person. Efforts to enhance the presence of these elements are in accordance to how change works in humans and are in congruence with certain normative suggestions of other theoretical growth models that are explored in this study. One such theoretical model, the Being Developmental Model (BDM) was selected for further development and evaluation for the purpose of this study. A known, tested and tried research approach, with proven strategies and methods within the social sciences were adopted in order to reach the theoretical and empirical objectives of the study. Statistical techniques used include: descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), bivariate correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis. EFA extracted more than one factor from three of the six theoretical BDM elements. The factors extracted from Vision (On Track and Calling), Manage the Environment (Physical Environment, External Environment and Inner Being) and Transcendence Exercise (God and Others; Mind and Emotions) confirmed and highlighted certain underlying dimensions within the three elements. The three remaining elements,..