Rating a boss, a colleague and a subordinate

Previous research has indicated that the evaluation of a candidates’ managerial status is partly a function of whether the raters are potentially subordinates or supervisors of the candidate. Extends this research by examining participants’ perceptions of the most desirable characteristic in a boss, colleague and subordinate. Just under 150 participants completed a personality test and rated 20 desirable characteristics they felt important. Results indicated that while honesty and competency were highly favoured in all three, there were many and significant differences particularly between boss and subordinate. Participants valued independence and loyalty much more in subordinates than bosses. Bosses’ most desirable characteristics included forward‐looking, inspiring, intelligent and fairminded, while subordinates were particularly valued for being dependable and determined. The 20 characteristics factored into factors mainly concerned with supportiveness, inspiration, competence, determination and honesty. Personality factors in the participants played little role on their rating; however, age and ideology were systematically related to their preferences. Discusses the results in terms of multi‐rater processes, appraisal and the consequences of only having top‐down evaluations.