LEADERSHIP THEORIES

Many of the research studies, particularly by behavioural scientists, have been carried

onto find out the answer to the question:

→ What makes a leader effective?

→ Is this success due to his personality,

Or his behavior ,

Or types of followers he has ,

Or situation in which he works ,

Or combination of all these ?

Instead these researches have resulted in various theories of approaches on leadership, the

prominent among these being Trait, Behavioural, and situational theories.

TRAIT APPROACH

Trait is defined as relatively ending quality as an individual. The trait approach

seeks to determine “What makes a successful leader” from the leader’s own personal
characteristics. People emphasized that a particular individual successful leader because of his

certain qualities or characteristics. Trait approach leadership studies were quite popular between

1930 and 1950. The method of study was to select leaders of eminence and their characteristics

were studied. It was the hypothesis that the persons having certain traits could become successful

leaders. Various research studies have given intelligence, attitudes, personality, and biological

factors.

According to him, various trait theories have suggested these traits in a successful leader:

i. Physical and constitutional factors

ii. Intelligence

iii. Self-confidence

iv. Sociability

v. Will

vi. Dominance

vii. Surgency

viii. Communicative skills

ix. Human relations

x. Motivating skill

Critical analysis:-
 The trait theory is fails to produce clear-cut results. It does’t consider the whole

environment of the leadership, of which trait may be only one factor. This approach presents

following problems:

∗ There cannot be generalization of traits for a successful leader. This was evident by

various researches conducted on leadership traits.

∗ No evidence has been given about the degree of the various traits because people have

various traits with different degrees.

∗ There is a problem of measuring the traits. Though there are various tests to measure the

personality traits, however, no definite conclusion can be drawn.

∗ There have been many people with the traits specified for leader, but they were not good

leaders.