Trait Leadership

Examples of Trait Leadership in the following topics:

• Leadership Traits

  • These models rests on two basic premises about leadership traits.
  • First, leadership emerges from the combined influence of multiple traits, as opposed to coming from various independent traits.
  • In other words, Zaccaro argues that effective leadership is derived from an integrated set of cognitive abilities, social capabilities, and personal tendencies, with each set of traits adding to the influence of the other.
  • The second premise suggests that leadership traits differ in their proximal (direct) influence on leadership.
  • Summarize the key characteristics and traits that are predictive of strong leadership capacity

• The Trait-Theory Approach

  • Following studies of trait leadership, most leader traits can be organized into four groups:
  • Trait leadership also takes into account the distinction between proximal and distal character traits.
  • The model rests on two basic premises about leadership traits.
  • The second premise maintains that the traits differ in how directly they influence leadership.
  • Explain the relevance of the trait approach in defining and promoting useful leadership development in the workplace

• Four Theories of Leadership

  • Theories of effective leadership include the trait, contingency, behavioral, and full-range theories.
  • Experts have proposed several theories, including the trait, behavioral, contingency, and full-range models of leadership.
  • The search for the characteristics or traits of effective leaders has been central to the study of leadership.
  • Instead, the interaction between those individual traits and the prevailing conditions is what creates effective leadership.
  • In response to the early criticisms of the trait approach, theorists began to research leadership as a set of behaviors.

• Management versus Leadership

  • Though they have traits in common, leadership and management both have unique responsibilities that do not necessarily overlap.
  • The terms "management" and "leadership" have been used interchangeably, yet there are clear similarities and differences between them.
  • Managerial work tends to be more transactional, emphasizing processes, coordination, and motivation, while leadership has an emotional appeal, is based on relationships with followers, and seeks to transform.
  • This definition of leadership may create a negative bias against managers as less noble or less important: "Leader" suggests a heroic figure, rallying people to unite under a common cause, while "manager" calls to mind less charismatic individuals who are focused solely on getting things done.
  • Distinguish between managerial roles and responsibilities and leadership roles and responsibilities

• Leadership Model: The Ohio State University

  • Prior to 1945, most studies of leadership sought to identify the individual traits of effective leaders.
  • Trait theories of leadership were the first to approach leadership study systematically.
  • Trait studies, however, yielded inconsistent results and opened the door to broader perspectives on understanding the behavior of leaders.
  • This dimension of leadership style is people-oriented.
  • This leadership style is task-oriented.

• Leadership and Situational Context: Fiedler

  • The Fiedler model shows that effective leadership depends on how a leader's traits and the surrounding context interact.
  • Fred Fiedler's model of leadership states that different types of leaders are required for different situations.
  • Fiedler subsequently enhanced his original model to increase the number of leadership traits it analyzed.
  • The Fiedler situational contingency model measures leadership traits with a test that provides a leadership score corresponding to the workplace where the leader would be most suited.
  • Some have disputed the model's validity by questioning how accurately it reflects a leader's personality traits.

• Choosing Leaders

  • Although the leader may or may not have any formal authority, students of leadership have produced theories involving traits, situational interaction, function, behavior, power, vision and values, charisma, and intelligence, among others.
  • The trait theory of leadership seeks to find attributes that all leaders possess.
  • Significant relationships exist between leadership and such individual traits as: intelligence, adjustment, extraversion, consciousness, openness to experience, and general self-efficacy.
  • Situational theory also appeared as a reaction to the trait theory of leadership.
  • In the laissez-faire leadership style, a person may be in a leadership position without providing leadership, leaving the group to fend for itself.

• Leadership

  • Scholars of leadership have produced theories involving traits, situational interaction, function, behavior, power, vision and values, charisma, and intelligence, among others.
  • New methods and measurements were developed after these influential reviews that would ultimately re-establish the trait theory as a viable approach to the study of leadership.
  • This advent allowed trait theorists to create a comprehensive picture of previous leadership research rather than rely on the qualitative reviews of the past.
  • They found significant relationships between leadership and individual traits such as the following:
  • While the trait theory of leadership has certainly regained popularity, its re-emergence has not been accompanied by a corresponding increase in sophisticated conceptual frameworks.

• Emotional Leadership

  • Emotional leadership is a process that leaders use to influence their followers to pursue a common goal.
  • Leadership is a process of motivating people and mobilizing resources to accomplish common goals.
  • According to the trait theory of leadership, some traits play a vital role in creating leaders, such as intelligence, adjustment, extroversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and general self-efficacy.
  • One key aspect of contemporary leadership theory points to emotional leadership as a possible approach to accomplishing organizational aims.
  • Trait EI refers to individuals' self-perceptions of their emotional abilities.

• Developing Leadership Skills

  • Leadership skills can be learned, and leadership development benefits individuals and organizations.
  • Leadership development refers to any activity that enhances the capability of an individual to assume leadership roles and responsibilities.
  • Personal traits and behavioral dispositions can help or hinder a person's leadership effectiveness.
  • Leadership traits can be broken down into 6 categories: Cognitive Capacities, Dispositional Attributes, Motives/Values, Social Capacities, Problem Solving Skills, Expertise & Knowledge.
  • Discuss the varying perspectives and models that surround the leadership development field, as well as the importance of leadership development