Which of the following is a key quality of idealized influence?

Idealized influence is a crucial component of transformational leadership, where leaders inspire and motivate their followers through their behavior and values. Acting as strong role models is a fundamental quality of idealized influence because leaders who exemplify integrity, commitment, and ethical behavior create a vision that followers are eager to embrace and emulate. When leaders consistently demonstrate positive attributes, they earn the trust and admiration of their team members, inspiring them to strive for similar standards of excellence. This strong role modeling establishes a sense of shared purpose and motivates individuals to achieve collective goals.

The other options reflect important aspects of leadership but do not align directly with the core concept of idealized influence. Self-interest orientation, for example, focuses on personal gain, which contradicts the selfless action expected of effective leaders. Encouraging risk-taking and maintaining high levels of innovation are also essential for various leadership styles, particularly in fostering creativity and change; however, these do not specifically capture the essence of idealized influence as effectively as acting as strong role models does.