Dietitians' self-perceptions: implications for leadership

This article reports usual modes of thinking and behavior as measured by the Life Styles Inventory--Level 1, Self-Description (LSI--Level 1), which was completed by 893 dietitians who attended at least one invitational leadership seminar during 1986 through 1989. The LSI--Level 1 measures 12 lifestyles, both positive and negative, and there is a score for each style. On a scale of 1 to 40, mean scores of the study sample were highest for Affiliative (32.0), Humanistic-Helpful (31.6), Achievement (31.1), and Self Actualize (28.8) styles. These are positive styles that characterize creative thinkers who have been described as good leaders: confident and energetic with balanced concern for both tasks and people. When mean scores of the study sample were plotted on a scaled circumplex to give a visual profile of the scores, the Dependent and Self Actualize styles were dominant; the study sample means were above the 75th percentile of the general population sample. Dependency is described as a self-defeating style characterized by insecurity, indecision, meekness, and acquiescence. chi 2 Analysis showed that study respondents who had high scores in positive styles were significantly more likely to hold graduate degrees, publish articles, conduct research, hold offices, initiate projects, and serve as mentors. High scores in self-defeating styles were associated with the bachelor's degree level and less involvement in research and continuing education programs. These results indicate that many dietitians possess attributes associated with strong leadership skills; nevertheless, a substantial number reported self-defeating, dependent behaviors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)