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Aug 4, 2024 · From the trait theory to the Great Man theory, discover the key leadership theories from the knowledgeable team of professionals at Leadership Success.
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.
Apr 9, 2024 · Research suggests that the most effective leaders adapt their style to different circumstances — be it a change in setting, a shift in organizational dynamics, or a turn in the business cycle.
Instead, the style of leadership that is most effective depends on the situation at hand. Contingency theory is also known as situational leadership theory. Generally, task-oriented leadership is more effective when the team is both skilled and motivated.
Aug 21, 2023 · Which leadership theory and style are most effective? The most effective leadership style depends on the leader and their personality. Each person and situation comes with many variables that affect leadership effectiveness. Finding the right combination of characteristics for you is key.