Practical intelligence and leadership styles in military leaders: a study of team dynamics

Abstract

Introduction. In an era of rapid change, effective leadership demands both effectiveness and the ability to understand surrounding challenges. Military commanders must routinely make decisions under uncertainty, relying not only on specialized skills but also on their baseline knowledge beyond predefined conditions. This study examines the relationship between leadership styles and practical intelligence among military leaders in team settings. Materials and Methods. The study employed two psychometric measures: the Practical Intelligence of the Commander in Non-Standard Situations (PIC-NS), adapted by the authors, and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ Form 5X Short; B. Bass, B. Avolio). Participants included 85 military students (aged 20–22) from a military training center. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23. Results. Participants were stratified into high- and low-practical-intelligence groups based on PIC-NS scores. Factor analysis revealed the structure of leadership styles within these groups: in participants with low levels of practical intelligence, leadership strategies clustered into a single factor, with a pronounced dichotomy between transactional strategies (negative reinforcement-based) and idealized influence, alongside self-reported leadership satisfaction. In participants with high levels of practical intelligence, greater diversification of leadership styles was observed, with effective strategies and their outcomes contrasting with laissez-faire approaches. Conclusion. Findings underscore the role of practical intelligence in shaping the structure of leadership styles. Practical applications include optimizing decision-making processes for leaders with varying levels of practical intelligence.