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The literature indicated a leader will typically demonstrate an overall optimistic outlook
(Luthens & Avolio, 2003) and will have a greater willingness to take risks (Conger & Kanungo,
1992). The results of this study contradict the expected results. Specifically, respondents that
scored high on opinion leadership tended to be less willing to take risks and were less optimistic
than respondents in the study. What is indeterminate from the results is whether these individuals
share this common set of characteristics because of their orientation towards taking leadership
roles, or being recognized as opinion leaders due to their knowledge of the subject matter. For
example, Nistler, Lamm, and Stedman (2011) found that affiliation was the strongest need
associated with volunteering for leadership positions. From this perspective individuals may
wish to serve as opinion leaders first and then become more knowledgeable about policy related
issues (information seeking behaviors and referent power to satisfy their need for affiliation).
Alternately, individuals may have been elevated to the role of opinion leader by their peers
because of their knowledge of the issues (expert power) (Corey, 1971).
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