This paper focusses on the trait approach on leadership, whereby this theory concentrates on the personal traits of leaders. The trait theory was one of the first ones to study leadership. Different developments within the past and present, as well as a future outlook are explained and analysed. The approach developed from the assumption that great leaders are born to the hypothesis that great leaders can be made when there is a need for that. Successful leadership is extended to an interaction between the traits of a leader and the situation itself. Today’s relevant aspects of the theory are the Big Five, Emotional Intelligence and Skills Leadership. In this light, this paper investigates future developments of leadership, focussing on charismatic and visionary leadership. Then, it presents an evaluation of the trait approach, its strengths and weaknesses and the importance of leadership traits for the future.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Dimensions of Leadership
- 3. Trait Leadership
- 3.1. Past Development
- 3.1.1. The Great Man Theory
- 3.1.2. Personal traits in relation to Leadership effectiveness
- 3.2. Present Development
- 3.2.1. The Big Five Personality Model
- 3.2.2. Emotional Intelligence
- 3.2.3. Skills Leadership
- 3.3. Future Development
- 3.3.1. Charismatic and visionary leadership
- 3.1. Past Development
- 4. Evaluation
- 4.1. Strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach
- 4.2. The importance of Leadership traits in the future
- 5. Summary
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the trait approach to leadership, examining its evolution from historical perspectives to contemporary applications and future trends. It analyzes how personal traits have been considered in leadership effectiveness throughout different eras.
- The historical development of trait theory in leadership studies.
- The role of personal traits (past, present) in leadership effectiveness.
- Contemporary models like the Big Five, emotional intelligence, and skills leadership.
- Future trends in leadership, focusing on charismatic and visionary leadership.
- An evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context for the paper by highlighting the historical significance of leadership in human achievements and the increasing relevance of understanding leadership in today's rapidly changing world. It presents multiple definitions of leadership, emphasizing the influence aspect, and focuses the paper on the trait approach, outlining its historical development and the key aspects that will be explored in subsequent chapters.
2. Dimensions of Leadership: This chapter explores various dimensions of leadership, examining the conceptualization of leadership influence across individual, team, and organizational levels. It contrasts leadership as a specialized role versus a shared influence process, distinguishing between direct and indirect leadership styles. The chapter emphasizes the significance of both rational and emotional aspects of influence in achieving group and organizational goals.
3. Trait Leadership: This chapter delves into the trait theory of leadership, tracing its historical development from the early 20th century. It discusses the initial focus on identifying innate qualities of "great leaders" and the subsequent shift toward a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between individual traits and situational factors. The chapter introduces the key concepts that will be examined in the following sub-chapters including the Great Man Theory and the limitations of early research.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Leadership traits, trait theory, Great Man Theory, Big Five personality model, emotional intelligence, skills leadership, charismatic leadership, visionary leadership, leadership effectiveness, situational factors.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this language preview?
This preview provides a comprehensive overview of a paper exploring the trait approach to leadership. It covers the historical development of trait theory, contemporary models (Big Five, emotional intelligence, skills leadership), future trends (charismatic and visionary leadership), and an evaluation of the approach's strengths and weaknesses.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the historical development of trait theory in leadership studies; the role of personal traits (past and present) in leadership effectiveness; contemporary models like the Big Five, emotional intelligence, and skills leadership; future trends in leadership, focusing on charismatic and visionary leadership; and an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into five chapters: An introduction setting the context and defining leadership; a chapter on the dimensions of leadership, exploring various aspects of influence; a detailed chapter on trait leadership, covering its historical development and contemporary models; an evaluation chapter focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach; and a summary chapter.
What historical theories of leadership are discussed?
The preview mentions the "Great Man Theory" as a foundational historical approach to understanding leadership traits. The paper will further analyze its limitations and subsequent developments in understanding leadership.
What contemporary models of leadership are examined?
The preview highlights the Big Five personality model, emotional intelligence, and skills leadership as contemporary models used to understand leadership effectiveness.
What are the future trends in leadership discussed?
The paper focuses on future trends in leadership, specifically exploring charismatic and visionary leadership.
What is the overall objective of the paper?
The paper aims to explore the trait approach to leadership, examining its evolution from historical perspectives to contemporary applications and future trends. It analyzes how personal traits have been considered in leadership effectiveness throughout different eras.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach to leadership discussed in the preview?
The preview indicates that a dedicated section of the paper will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach to leadership, providing a critical analysis of its usefulness and limitations.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Leadership traits, trait theory, Great Man Theory, Big Five personality model, emotional intelligence, skills leadership, charismatic leadership, visionary leadership, leadership effectiveness, and situational factors.
Where can I find more detailed information about each chapter?
The preview provides chapter summaries offering a concise overview of the content of each section of the paper. These summaries provide a good foundation for understanding the paper's structure and main arguments.
- Quote paper
- Lea Graeser (Author), 2021, The historical importance of leadership traits. From trait theory to charismatic leadership, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1132023