This paper focusses on the trait approach on leadership, whereby this theory concentrates on the personal traits of leaders. The trait theory was one of the first ones to study leadership. Different developments within the past and present, as well as a future outlook are explained and analysed. The approach developed from the assumption that great leaders are born to the hypothesis that great leaders can be made when there is a need for that. Successful leadership is extended to an interaction between the traits of a leader and the situation itself. Today’s relevant aspects of the theory are the Big Five, Emotional Intelligence and Skills Leadership. In this light, this paper investigates future developments of leadership, focussing on charismatic and visionary leadership. Then, it presents an evaluation of the trait approach, its strengths and weaknesses and the importance of leadership traits for the future.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Dimensions of Leadership
3. Trait Leadership
3.1. Past Development
3.1.1. The Great Man Theory
3.1.2. Personal traits in relation to Leadership effectiveness
3.2. Present Development
3.2.1. The Big Five Personality Model
3.2.2. Emotional Intelligence
3.2.3. Skills Leadership
3.3. Future Development
3.3.1. Charismatic and visionary leadership
4. Evaluation
4.1. Strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach
4.2. The importance of Leadership traits in the future
5. Summary
6. Reference List
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to analyze the evolution of leadership theories by focusing on the trait approach, examining how the perception of leadership has shifted from innate, born qualities to learned skills and interactive processes in a modern, dynamic business environment.
- The historical transition from "Great Man Theory" to contemporary leadership models.
- Core personality factors including the Big Five model and Emotional Intelligence.
- The impact of situational contexts and leadership skills on organizational success.
- The significance of charismatic and visionary leadership in current management practice.
- Critical evaluation of the strengths and limitations inherent in trait-based leadership theories.
Excerpt from the Publication
3.1.2. Personal traits in relation to Leadership effectiveness
During the development of the theory, many studies about the relation of traits and leadership have been conducted. The goal was to identify a pattern of traits that would lead to guaranteed leadership success within every organization.
In two separate surveys the researcher Stogdill analyzed more than 287 studies on leadership traits. The first review was conducted from 1904 to 1947 and the second one from 1948 to 1970. Stogdill’s first survey identified a group of important leadership traits that were related to how individuals in various groups became leaders. The results showed a significant different behavior between the average leader and the average group member, emphasizing the following eight traits: intelligence, alertness, insight, responsibility, initiative, persistence, self-confidence, and sociability. Furthermore, the reviews also indicated that an individual does not become a leader because of the possession of certain traits. Moreover, the traits of individuals are relevant to situations where leadership is conducted. This particular research marked the start of the leadership research focused on behavioral leadership.
Mann analyzed 1.400 findings of personality and leadership in small groups in 1959. In his studies, Mann placed less emphasis on how situational factors influence leadership. The identification of strong leaders was found in the following traits: intelligence, masculinity, adjustment, dominance, extraversion, and conservatism.
Further, Lord et al. reassessed Mann´s conclusions in 1986 using a more sophisticated method. They came to the conclusion that intelligence, masculinity and dominance had a significant relation on individual´s perception of good leaders. Arguing that, “traits could be used to make discriminations consistently across situations between leaders and non-leaders.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical importance of leadership and defines the paper's scope regarding the trait approach and its development over time.
2. Dimensions of Leadership: Explores the conceptual levels of leadership, differentiating between leadership as a specialized role versus a shared influence process.
3. Trait Leadership: Provides a comprehensive chronological overview of leadership research, starting from early innate trait assumptions to modern behavioral and charismatic models.
4. Evaluation: Critically assesses the advantages and disadvantages of focusing on leader traits and discusses their continued relevance for future leadership practice.
5. Summary: Synthesizes the main findings, reiterating the transition from individual-focused trait theories to interactive, relationship-based leadership definitions.
6. Reference List: Provides the academic foundation and literature sources used throughout the analysis.
Keywords
Leadership, Trait Theory, Great Man Theory, Big Five Personality Model, Emotional Intelligence, Skills Leadership, Charismatic Leadership, Visionary Leadership, Leadership Effectiveness, Organizational Behavior, Social Intelligence, Management, Behavioral Leadership, Leadership Development, Personality Traits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
This paper examines the history and development of trait-based leadership theories, exploring how leadership qualities are defined and how they contribute to effectiveness in organizational settings.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work covers the transition from "Great Man" theories to modern concepts like Emotional Intelligence, the Big Five Personality Model, and the increasing importance of charismatic and visionary leadership.
What is the main objective or research question?
The primary objective is to evaluate whether and how specific personal traits contribute to a leader's success and how these theories have evolved to include situational and relational factors.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The paper utilizes a literature review and thematic analysis, synthesizing historical academic surveys and major research studies on leadership traits from the 20th century to the present.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section details the development of the trait approach, starting with historical definitions, moving through personality and skills-based models, and concluding with current transformational approaches.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Leadership, Trait Theory, Emotional Intelligence, Charismatic Leadership, Visionary Leadership, and Organizational Behavior.
How does the author define the "Great Man Theory"?
The author identifies this theory as an early research phase focused on the innate, heroic qualities of historical figures, suggesting that leaders are born rather than made.
What role does the "Big Five" model play in leadership?
The Big Five model is highlighted as a critical framework for identifying basic personality factors like extraversion and conscientiousness, which correlate significantly with effective leadership behaviors.
How is Emotional Intelligence linked to effective leadership?
According to the text, leaders with high emotional intelligence are better at understanding their own emotions and those of others, which enhances their communication, empathy, and ability to manage complex relationships.
- Quote paper
- Lea Graeser (Author), 2021, The historical importance of leadership traits. From trait theory to charismatic leadership, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1132023
