Trait theory

Trait-a defining characteristic, quality, or enduring tendency of a person.

In psychology this is the idea that individuals differ based on the strength and intensity
of basic trait dimensions.
There are five traits that are identified which is remembered with the mnemonic
OCEAN. this are openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion,
agreeableness, and neuroticism
Early leadership theory, also known as trait theory, focused on describing the qualities
or traits of leaders (Stogdill, 1974). Leadership trait theory was founded on the
assumption that certain leadership characteristics were innate in leaders. Intelligence,
alertness, dependability, energy, drive, enthusiasm, ambition, and decency have all
been found to be associated with leadership.

Example:
 For instance, the late Steve Jobs was well-known for his charm. People wanted
to follow him because of his ability to passionately explain his ideals.
 Own example: Former students voted for their class president because of his
intelligence. They believed that because of his intelligence he will be able to lead
the class.
Interactional Leadership Theories
Researchers moved on from establishing characteristic theory to looking at how the
leader interacts with other variables in the leadership scenario. Contemporary
leadership theories, such as situational and behavioral theories, have attempted to
integrate the dynamics of the interaction between the leader, the worker, and elements
of the leadership situation, arguing that effective leadership depends on the leader, the
worker, and the elements of the leadership situation.

Example:
  For example, during competitive sporting situations like penalty shoot- outs in
football, they are more likely to predict behaviour than personality traits.
 Own example: A student nurse has handled an angry patient calmly explaining
the procedures and protocols that the patient had to undergo and the nurse had
to follow providing him/her the right to refuse to treatment through signing an
waiver to refuse.
Transformational Leadership
In a contemporary concept of leadership, Burns (1978) identified and defined
transformational leadership. Burns contends that there are two types of leaders:
(1) the transactional leader, who is concerned with the day-to-day operations of the
facility and
(2) the transformational leader, who is committed to organizational goals, has a vision,
and is able to empower others with that vision.
The transformational leader is able to guide employees to feel pride in the work of the
organization and to inspire them to be actively engaged to achieve the mission and
goals of the organization. Transformational leaders spend time teaching and coaching,
seek differing perspectives when faced with problems to solve, and seek new ways to
improve the work environment. Box 16-1 compares characteristics of Burns’ (1978)
transformational and transactional leadership styles.

Example:
 A leader moves awareness about what is important, and away from self-interest.
 An owner of the hospital requires works to undergo through seminars and
trainings on taking care of covid patients also providing them protocols on taking
care of patients. Example is providing them memos on new protocols/laws about
staff selling medicines that are provided free by the government.

Management Theory
Behavioral theories emerged to explain aspects of management based on behaviors of
managers, leaders, and followers. Three prevalent management behavior styles were
identified by Lewin (1951) and White and Lippit (1960): authoritarian, democratic, and
laissez-faire. Box 16-3 presents characteristics of these management styles, which vary
in the amount of control exhibited by the manager and the amount of involvement that
the staff has in decision making. At one extreme, the autocratic manager makes all
decisions with no staff input and uses the authority of the position to accomplish goals.
At the opposite extreme is the laissez-faire manager, who provides little direction or
guidance and will forgo decision making. Democratic management is also often referred
to as participative management because of its basic premise of encouraging staff
members to participate in decision making. Depending on the situation, the nurse
manager may need to use different types of management styles.

Types of management:
 AUTOCRATIC/AUTHORITAT DEMOCRATIC/PARTICIPAT LAISSEZ-
IVE IVE FAIRE

• Determines policy and • Encourages staff • Does not

makes all decisions participation in decision provide
• Ignores subordinates’ ideas making guidance or
or suggestions • Involves staff in planning direction
• Dictates the work with and developing new ideas • Unable or
much control and programs unwilling to
• Gives little feedback or • Believes in the best in make
recognition for work people decisions
• Makes fast decisions • Communicates effectively, • Does not
• Successful with employees and provides regular provide
with little education or feedback feedback
training • Builds responsibility in • Initiates little
people change
• Works well with • Communicat
competent, highly motivated es by memos
people or e-mail
• May work
well with
professional
people

Example:
AUTOCRATIC/AUTHORITATIVE:
 A group leader did the whole activity disregarding the suggestions/
comments and efforts of his/her groupmates
DEMOCRATIC/PARTICIPATIVE:
 A nurse lets the patient to cooperate with his/her treatment plan
considering also the pros and cons of the suggestions and comments of
the patient which the nurse also
explains the possible pros and cons of the chosen treatment plan of the
patient.
LAISSEZ-FAIRE:
 A leader or a chief of nurses does not communicate with his staffs and
provided only memos. However, during her/his duties he works
professionally with his colleagues.
Organizational Theory
Organizational theory has evolved to give a framework for understanding complex
organizations, just as leadership and management theories have grown to provide a
framework for understanding leadership and management. A quick overview of
bureaucratic theory, systems theory, and chaos theory might help the reader appreciate
the importance of utilizing organizational theory to understand management. Some are
types of organizational theories
Within the framework of nursing, organizational theory simply views a health care
facility’s nursing set-up to determine if it works for the benefit of patients.

 Classical Theory-This is built around four elements:

o Build and specialization of labor
o Chain of command; hierarchy, line authority, staff authority
o Organizational structure describes the arrangement of the group
work
o Span of control

Example:
 The scientific theory of management is considered better suited to
businesses based on repetitive tasks, such as a factory.
 Systems Theory:
o A system is interrelated parts arranged in unified whole
o Systems can be open or close
o Organization is a recurrent cycle of input-throughput-output
o The manager is the catalyst for the process

Example:
 The purchasing department does not acquire the right quantity and
quality of inputs, the production department wont be able to do its job.
 Chaos Theory
o Organizations are living, self-organizing systems that are complex
and self-adaptive
o Creativity and flexibility are necessary to adopt too change
o The leader’s role is to build for resilience, maintain balance and
encourage creativity
Example:
 Unlike the behavior of a pendulum, which adheres to a predictable
pattern a chaotic system does not settle into a predictable pattern due
to its nonlinear processes.