What is trait theory in leadership and its application

 

Trait Era (Great man theory:1840s)

Leadership theories are commenced with the great man theory. Great man theory was developed in the 1840s as the first theory for leadership. The main assumption of the great man theory is leaders are born not made or trained. It emphasizes on innate characteristics of a leader. Studying personalities who made a revolution to the world may cause to create the belief of leaders are born not made. Instances for great people: Mother Theresa, Adolf Hitler, Julius Caesar, George Washington, etc.

Trait Era (Trait theory: 1930s-1940s)

The great man theory is the predecessor of the trait theory of leadership. Trait theory evolved in the 1930s-1940s. It is also about the characteristics of a leader. Various research about trait theory for leadership reveals traits of a leader are generated via two sources. According to those sources, the leader has two types of traits: innate qualities and acquirable qualities. Innate qualities are individual characteristics that are possessed from a person’s birth and an individual cannot acquire these qualities. Acquirable qualities of leadership emphasize qualities or characteristics of a leader that can be obtained, learned, trained, and increased via various processes by socialization, identification, and training programs.

Trait theory assumes leader’s characteristics can be acquired or improved by various processes but great man theory assumes traits of a leader cannot be acquired, leaders’ traits are born with their birth. It is the main difference between great man theory and trait theory. Those traits are physical and constitutional factors: (height, weight, physique, energy, health, appearance,) intelligence, sociability, self-confidence, dominance, will, supervisory ability, intelligence, self-assurance and self-actualization.

Application of the trait theory.

The theory emphasizes, to become a successful leader, an individual should possess certain specific characteristics such as height, weight, appearance, physique etc. Hence the dimension is the traits, to recognize a person as a leader. Thus the attention of this theory is only on the attributes of a leader. It means the application of the trait theory is limited only to the characteristics of a leader. But only traits are not sufficient to become a successful leader. It is one of a drawback of this theory. Besides, other criticisms are,

·         It fails to demonstrate definite results.

·         It does not consider all aspects of leadership; trait is only one factor.

·         There cannot be a generalization of traits for a successful leader.

·         leaders who have specified leadership traits always do not become good leaders.

·         Problem of measuring traits. No definite conclusion as to how to measure the traits.

The limitations of the trait theory are subject to evolve the behavioral theory of leadership.

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