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Aug 4, 2024 · With almost 70 leadership theories to explore, it can be difficult finding one that resonates with your beliefs or options. To support you with this substantial task, the helpful team at Leadership Success has listed ten of the most well-known and popular theories of leadership below.
Jan 18, 2022 · Successful leaders come in all different varieties, and leadership researchers have set out to discern why that is. They ask questions about whether leaders are born that way or evolve by practicing skills; about the leadership styles that people prefer best; and so on, to arrive at useful and holistic leadership theories. Successful leaders ...
- A Closer Look at Leadership Theories
- "Great Man" Theories
- Trait Theories
- Contingency Theories
- Situational Theories
- Behavioral Theories
- Participative Theories
- Management Theories
- Relationship Theories
- Takeaway
As interest in the psychology of leadership has increased over the last 100 years, a number of different leadership theories have been introduced to explain exactly how and why certain people become great leaders. What exactly makes a great leader? Do certain personality traitsmake people better suited to leadership roles, or do characteristics of ...
Have you ever heard someone described as "born to lead?" According to this view, great leaders are simply born with the necessary internal characteristics, such as charisma, confidence, intelligence, and social skills, to be natural-born leaders. Great man theories assume that the capacity for leadership is inherent—that great leaders are born, not...
Similar in some ways to Great Man theories, trait theories assume that people inherit certain qualities and traits that make them better suited to leadership. Trait theories often identify a particular personality or behavioral characteristics shared by leaders. For example, traits like extroversion, self-confidence, and courage are all traits that...
Contingency theories of leadership focus on particular variables related to the environment that might determine which particular style of leadership is best suited for the situation. According to this theory, no leadership styleis best in all situations. Leadership researchers White and Hodgson suggest that truly effective leadership is not just a...
Situational theories propose that leaders choose the best course of action based upon situational variables. Different styles of leadership may be more appropriate for certain types of decision-making. For example, in a situation where the leader is the most knowledgeable and experienced member of a group, an authoritarian style might be most appro...
Behavioral theories of leadership are based on the belief that great leaders are made, not born. Consider this the flip side of the Great Man theories. Rooted in behaviorism, this leadership theory focuses on leaders' actions, not on their mental qualities or internal states. According to this theory, people can learn to become leaders through teac...
Participative leadership theories suggest that the ideal leadership style is one that takes the input of others into account. These leaders encourage participation and contributions from group members and help group members feel more relevant and committed to the decision-making process. In participative theories, however, the leader retains the ri...
Management theories, also known as transactional theories, focus on the role of supervision, organization, and group performance. These theories base leadership on a system of rewards and punishments. Managerial theories are often used in business; when employees are successful, they are rewarded and when they fail, they are reprimanded or punished...
Relationship theories, also known as transformational theories, focus upon the connections formed between leaders and followers. Transformational leaders motivate and inspire people by helping group members see the importance and higher good of the task. These leaders are focused on the performance of group members, but also want every person to fu...
There are many different ways of thinking about leadership, ranging from focusing on the personality traits of outstanding leadership to emphasizing aspects of the situation that help determine how people lead. Like most things, leadership is a highly multi-faceted subject and it is a mixture of many factors that help determine why some people beco...
Mar 10, 2023 · Learn about six major leadership theories that help explain how and why a person becomes a leader and how you can use theories to improve your own leadership skills.
- "Great Man" Theory or Trait Theory. The Great Man Theory of leadership purports that great leaders are born, not made. It proposes that there are those who are simply born with the personality traits and attributes that set them apart and predispose them to great leadership skills.
- Contingency Theory. The contingency theory of leadership states that effective leadership is contingent upon the specific situation at hand. According to this theory, a leader can be effective in one circumstance and ineffective in another.
- Behavioral Theory. The behavioral leadership theory, as the name suggests, focuses on how leaders behave. More significantly, it postulates that these traits can be learned by observing and copying other leaders.
- Participative Theory. Participative leadership theory teaches leaders to listen to their employees and involve them in the decision-making process. It encourages an inclusive mindset, proactive communication, and the willingness to share power with team members.
What is the best leadership theory? There is no one best leadership theory. Instead, there are several different theories that can be useful in different situations. The key is to know which theory will work best in a given situation and to be able to adapt your leadership style as needed.
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Mar 21, 2023 · According to the trait theory, people who have heroic or influential traits become powerful leaders. Ralph Stogdill, a major proponent of this theory, explained that charisma is one of the most significant leadership traits, distinguishing a leader from others. According to him, a leader must have the following traits:
