ADM Leadership Lecture 2 – Trait Theory

Description Trait approach one of the first attempts to systematically study leadership. –Great Man Theory Major review by Stodgill in 1948: No consistent set of traits differentiated leaders from non-leaders across a variety of situations. Trait approach one of the first attempts to systematically study leadership. –Great Man Theory Major review by Stodgill in 1948: No consistent set of traits differentiated leaders from non-leaders across a variety of situations.

Description More modern research: personality traits linked to individual’s perception of leadership.

Table 2.1 Studies of Leadership Traits and Characteristics StodgillMannStodgillLord, DeVader, & Alliger Kirkpatrick and Locke (1948)(1959)(1974)(1986)(1991) Intelligence Alertness Insight Responsibility Initiative Persistence Self- confidence Sociability Intelligence Masculinity Adjustment Dominance Extroversion Conservatism Achievement Persistence Insight Initiative Self-confidence Responsibility Cooperativeness Tolerance Influence Sociability Intelligence Masculinity Dominance Drive Motivation Integrity Confidence Cognitive ability Task knowledge

Major Leadership Traits: Summary Intelligence. –Intelligence or intellectual ability is positively related to leadership. –Leader’s intelligence should not vary much from subordinates. Intelligence. –Intelligence or intellectual ability is positively related to leadership. –Leader’s intelligence should not vary much from subordinates.

Major Leadership Traits: Summary Self-confidence. –Self-confidence is the ability to be certain about one’s competencies and skills. –A sense of self-esteem and self- assurance and the belief that one can make a difference. Self-confidence. –Self-confidence is the ability to be certain about one’s competencies and skills. –A sense of self-esteem and self- assurance and the belief that one can make a difference.

Major Leadership Traits: Summary Determination. –Determination refers to the desire to get the job done and includes such characteristics as initiative, persistence, dominance, and drive. –Individuals with determination are willing to assert themselves, they are proactive, and they have the capacity to persevere in the face of obstacles. Determination. –Determination refers to the desire to get the job done and includes such characteristics as initiative, persistence, dominance, and drive. –Individuals with determination are willing to assert themselves, they are proactive, and they have the capacity to persevere in the face of obstacles.

Major Leadership Traits: Summary Integrity. –The quality of honesty and trustworthiness. –Individuals who adhere to a strong set of principles and take responsibility for their actions are exhibiting integrity. Integrity. –The quality of honesty and trustworthiness. –Individuals who adhere to a strong set of principles and take responsibility for their actions are exhibiting integrity.

Major Leadership Traits: Summary Sociability. –A leader’s inclination to seek out pleasant social relationships. –Leaders who show sociability are friendly, outgoing, courteous, tactful, and diplomatic. –Sensitive to other’s needs. –Good interpersonal skills, create cooperative relationships with followers. Not universal, but important. Sociability. –A leader’s inclination to seek out pleasant social relationships. –Leaders who show sociability are friendly, outgoing, courteous, tactful, and diplomatic. –Sensitive to other’s needs. –Good interpersonal skills, create cooperative relationships with followers. Not universal, but important.

How Does the Trait Approach Work? Trait approach focuses exclusively on the leader and not the situation or followers. Trait approach assumes that having a leader with a certain set of traits is crucial to effective leadership. Trait approach focuses exclusively on the leader and not the situation or followers. Trait approach assumes that having a leader with a certain set of traits is crucial to effective leadership.

How Does the Trait Approach Work? Organizations will work better if the people in managerial positions have designated leadership profiles. Also used for personal awareness and development. Organizations will work better if the people in managerial positions have designated leadership profiles. Also used for personal awareness and development.

Strengths Intuitively appealing. A century of research to back it up. Highlights the leader component of the leadership process. Provides benchmarks of what we need to look for. Intuitively appealing. A century of research to back it up. Highlights the leader component of the leadership process. Provides benchmarks of what we need to look for.

Criticisms Failure to produce a definitive list. Fails to take situations into account. Highly subjective determinations of “most important leadership traits.” Methodologically suspect. Failure to produce a definitive list. Fails to take situations into account. Highly subjective determinations of “most important leadership traits.” Methodologically suspect.

Criticisms Fails to link traits to leadership outcomes. Not very useful for training and development. Fails to link traits to leadership outcomes. Not very useful for training and development.

Application Can be applied to all individuals at all levels and all types of organizations. Can be used by managers to assess standing in organization and what they need to do to strengthen their position. Check congruence of personal characteristics and organizational needs. Can be applied to all individuals at all levels and all types of organizations. Can be used by managers to assess standing in organization and what they need to do to strengthen their position. Check congruence of personal characteristics and organizational needs.