The objective of the study was to analyze what kind of picture media creates about the characteristics of CEOs and leadership and compare it to the relevant research. The research material consisted of 43 articles published in the Finnish business magazine Arvopaperi concerning CEO characteristics which were studied with a discursive approach.
In the research, it was discovered that features represented as typical characteristics of CEOs include good social skills and people-centricity, courage, toughness, conscientiousness, and determination as well as modesty, ambitiousness, intelligence, experience, rationality, and activity. Some of these represented characteristics are better aligned with the research on CEO characteristics than others. In addition, it was discovered that leader-centric leadership views are highlighted in the articles with the views mostly congruent with transformational leadership theory and other leader-centric leadership theories.
Special characteristics of CEOs are highlighted in the articles and leadership is largely represented to be in their possession. This may produce unrealistic expectations toward CEOs and create an inaccurate picture of leadership.
