Leadership Trait Theory
For well over 100 years researchers have been studying what makes great leaders (Arvey, et al., 2006). As Mirvis and Gunning (2006) point out, "What comes to mind when you hear the word leadership? Most often the image is of the heroic individual, often charismatic, whose positional power, intellectual strength, and persuasive gifts motivate followers" (p. 70). One of the first systematic studies in leadership was built around the idea of what has since been termed trait theory (Northouse, 2007; Smith and Canger, 2004). This theory is based on the premise that people are born with certain characteristics, such as personality traits, and therefore some are more likely to become leaders than others. This paper presents a review of literature concerning trait theory and discussion of the issues surrounding it.
Great Man Theory
The Trait Theory of leadership originated with the Great Man Theory of history. As Kirkpatrick and Locke (1991) explain, "In the 19th......
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Approximate Word Count: 4203
Approximate Pages: 17 (260 words per double-spaced page) |