摘要：AbstractLeaders’ self-perception is one key factor when drawing an illustration of a university leader. In this research, leaders’ perceptions of themselves as leaders were studied. In total, 13 university leaders from Finland and the United States were asked how they understand good leadership and how they describe themselves as leaders. Interviews were completed with a semi- structured questionnaire and additional qualitative research data were given by participants (N=28) attending to a leadership seminar at the University of Lapland. Results concerning the theme of leaders’ strengths and their ideas about today's people management were studied through the following research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of a good people leader according to the university leaders’ opinions? (2) How do the university leaders describe themselves as leaders? (3) What factor did the university leaders name that could hinder them from being good (caring) leaders? (4) What do the university leaders find inspiring in people management? The results showed that the university leaders reflected themselves as leaders from various perspectives and they were able to not only name their distinctive strengths as leaders, but also factors that they considered imbedding them from being such leaders in higher education institutions. Our key results stressed the need for caring leadership that is stressed with authentic and experience-based viewpoints. Based on current findings, call for further investigation for developing positively sensitive practices of caring leadership appeared evident.
