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Leadership Theories and Traits Overview

The document discusses several theories of leadership including trait theory, behavioral theories, goal path theory, situational leadership theory, and transactional vs transformational leadership. Trait theory focuses on identifying characteristics of successful leaders. Behavioral theories examine how leaders behave and make decisions. Goal path theory identifies four types of leader behaviors. Situational leadership theory proposes different leadership styles depending on follower readiness. Transactional leadership maintains operations while transformational leadership focuses on motivation and change.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
73 views6 pages

Leadership Theories and Traits Overview

The document discusses several theories of leadership including trait theory, behavioral theories, goal path theory, situational leadership theory, and transactional vs transformational leadership. Trait theory focuses on identifying characteristics of successful leaders. Behavioral theories examine how leaders behave and make decisions. Goal path theory identifies four types of leader behaviors. Situational leadership theory proposes different leadership styles depending on follower readiness. Transactional leadership maintains operations while transformational leadership focuses on motivation and change.

Uploaded by

Rana Sairm
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

LEADERSHIP

Trait Theory of Leadership

The trait model of leadership is based on the characteristics of many leaders-both


successful and unsuccessful – and is used to predict leadership effectiveness. The
resulting lists of traits are then compared to those of potential leaders to assess their
likelihood of success or failure.

1. Drive: Leaders exhibits a higher effort level. They have a relatively high desire for
achievement, they are ambitious, they have a lot of energy, and they are tirelessly
persistent in their activities and they show initiative.
2. The desire to Lead: Leaders have a strong desire to influence and lead others. They
demonstrate the willingness to take responsibility.
3. Honesty and Integrity: Leaders built a trusting relationship between themselves and
followers by being truthful or no deceitful and by showing high consistency between
word and deed.
4. Self-confidence: Followers look to leaders for an absence of self-doubt. Leaders,
therefore, need to show self-confidence in order to convince followers of goals’ and
decisions.
5. Intelligence: Leaders need to be intelligent enough to gather, synthesize and
interpret large amounts of information and to be able to create visions solve
problems and make correct decisions.
6. Job-Relevant Knowledge: Effective leaders have a high degree of knowledge about
company, industry and technical matters. In-depth knowledge allows leaders to
make well-informed decisions and to understand the implications of those decisions.

Behavioral Theories of Leadership

Behavioral theories focus on how leaders behave. For instance, do leaders dictate what
needs to be done and expect cooperation? Or do they involve their teams in decision-
making to encourage acceptance and support?
University of Lowa

1. Autocratic leaders make decisions without consulting their teams. This style of
leadership is considered appropriate when decisions need to be made quickly,
when there's no need for input, and when team agreement isn't necessary for a
successful outcome.
2. Democratic leaders allow the team to provide input before making a decision,
although the degree of input can vary from leader to leader. This style is
important when team agreement matters, but it can be difficult to manage when
there are lots of different perspectives and ideas.
3. Laissez-faire leaders don't interfere; they allow people within the team to make
many of the decisions. This works well when the team is highly capable, is
motivated, and doesn't need close supervision. However, this behavior can arise
because the leader is lazy or distracted; and this is where this style of leadership
can fail.
University of Ohio

1. Initiating Structure Behavior: The behavior of leaders who define the leader-
subordinate role so that everyone knows what is expected, establish formal lines of
communication, and determine how tasks will be performed.
2. Consideration Behavior: The behavior of leaders who are concerned for
subordinates and attempt to establish a worm, friendly, and supportive climate.

University of Michigan

The university talks about the leadership styles about

Task Oriented: The task-oriented leader creates policies and procedures, informs
subordinates of these procedures and develops criteria for evaluating successful
employee performance. Task-oriented leaders may organize their time around a
schedule of events

Relationship Oriented: Relationship-oriented leadership theory describes a leader who


is primarily motivated by and concerned with her interactions with people.
Relationship-oriented leaders often act as mentors to their subordinates. They schedule
time to talk with employees and incorporate their feedback into decisions.

Goal Path Theory

The four path-goal types of leader behaviors are:

o Directive: The leader informs her followers on what is expected of them, such as
telling them what to do, how to perform a task, and scheduling and coordinating
work. It is most effective when people are unsure about the task or when there is
a lot of uncertainty within the environment.
o Supportive: The leader makes work pleasant for the workers by showing
concern for them and by being friendly and approachable. It is most effective in
situations in which tasks and relationships are physically or psychologically
challenging.
o Participative: The leader consults with his followers before making a decision on
how to proceed. It is most effective when subordinates are highly trained and
involved in their work.
o Achievement: The leader sets challenging goals for her followers, expects them
to perform at their highest level, and shows confidence in their ability to meet
this expectation. It is most effective in professional work environments, such as
technical, or scientific.
Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory

(Make this diagram or the table we leant in the class with the technique (of Low ,
Low, High , High ___ Low – High – High –Low wala table)

 Telling Style: Refers a high-task, low-relationship style wherein the leader gives
explicit directions and supervises work closely. This style is geared toward low
maturity followers.
 Selling Style: Refers to a high-task, high-relationship style, in which the leader
attempts to sell his ideas to the group by explaining task directions in a
persuasive manner. This, too, is used with moderate followers. Unlike the
previous style, these followers have the ability but are unwilling to do the job.
 Participating Style: A low-task, high-relationship style that emphasizes shared
ideas and decisions. Managers using the participating style tend to use it with
moderate followers who are not only experienced but with those who aren't as
confident to do the tasks assigned.
 Delegating Style: A low-task, low-relationship style wherein the leader allows
the group to take responsibility for task decisions. This is best used with high
maturity followers.

Transactional Vs Transformational leadership

Transactional Leadership

Transactional leadership styles are more concerned with maintaining the normal flow
of operations – this style is best described as “keeping the ship afloat.” Transactional
leaders use disciplinary power .

Transformational Leadership

A transformational leader goes beyond managing day-to-day operations and crafts


strategies for taking his company, department or work team to the next level of
performance and success. Transformational leadership styles focus on team-building,
motivation and collaboration with employees at different levels of an organization to
accomplish change for the better.

Common questions

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The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory suggests that a 'selling style' is effective in environments with skilled but unmotivated employees. This style involves high-task, high-relationship leadership where the leader actively engages with the team to persuade and motivate them by explaining tasks persuasively and building enthusiasm . This approach helps to harness the employees' skills by increasing their willingness to work toward goals.

Directive leadership involves informing followers about what is expected of them, outlining how tasks should be performed, and managing schedules to ensure coordination . This style is effective in situations with high uncertainty or when tasks are unclear. Conversely, supportive leadership focuses on making work environments pleasant by showing concern and being approachable, which is effective when tasks or relationships are challenging either physically or psychologically .

Consideration behavior is important in organizational cultures that prioritize employee well-being and emphasize supportive work environments. Leaders who show concern for subordinates and create a warm, friendly atmosphere can enhance team cohesion, increase job satisfaction, and improve employee morale, which are vital for high employee retention and productivity . In such cultures, a leader's ability to build strong interpersonal relationships directly impacts organizational success.

The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory helps leaders adapt their style by assessing follower maturity, which includes skill level and willingness to perform tasks. In situations with low maturity followers, a 'telling style' with high-task, low-relationship emphasis is recommended. For followers with some ability but lacking willingness, a 'selling style' is preferred. With experienced but less confident followers, a 'participating style' is suitable, focusing on shared decisions. Finally, with high maturity followers, a 'delegating style', offering them full autonomy, is most effective . The flexibility in adapting leadership styles ensures better alignment with team dynamics and individual needs.

Participative leadership is a strength in decision-making because it encourages broader input from team members, fostering buy-in and diverse perspectives, which can lead to more informed and accepted decisions . However, it can also be challenging because it may slow down decision-making processes and create difficulties in reaching consensus when there are many differing opinions and ideas .

Job-relevant knowledge is crucial according to the trait theory of leadership, as it allows leaders to make informed decisions, understand the implications of these decisions, and navigate company, industry, and technical issues effectively. This in-depth knowledge ensures that leaders can process information accurately and make decisions that enhance organizational performance .

Trait-based leadership theories focus on identifying specific characteristics that are believed to contribute to a leader's effectiveness, such as drive, desire to lead, honesty and integrity, self-confidence, and intelligence . Behavioral theories, on the other hand, examine the actions and behaviors of leaders, such as whether they are autocratic, democratic, or laissez-faire in decision making, and whether they focus on task-oriented or relationship-oriented leadership . While trait theories emphasize inherent qualities, behavioral theories focus on learned actions and contexts.

According to the trait theory, a leader's self-confidence is crucial in fostering follower trust and motivation because followers seek assurance of direction and goals from their leader. Leaders who exhibit confidence in their decisions and actions can effectively reduce follower self-doubt, increase team morale, and inspire confidence in the leader's vision and objectives . This, in turn, enhances the overall effectiveness of the leadership by promoting collective engagement and commitment to achieving goals.

A laissez-faire leadership style can be most effective when the team is highly capable, motivated, and does not require close supervision, allowing team members the autonomy to make decisions and innovate . Potential pitfalls include the risk of the leader appearing lazy or distracted, which can lead to failure if the team lacks direction or if individual members do not have the self-discipline to perform effectively without guidance .

Transactional leadership is focused on maintaining the current flow of operations and ensuring compliance through disciplinary power and rewards . It emphasizes routine tasks and clear hierarchical structures. Transformational leadership, on the other hand, seeks to inspire and motivate employees to exceed standard performance levels, focusing on change, team building, and innovation to improve overall organizational performance .

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