Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRationaleTraitsControversyThe Internet Age
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Table of Contents
Rationale
Traits
Controversy
The Internet Age
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The trait theory ofleadershippostulates that successful leadership arises from certain inbornpersonality traitsand characteristics that produce consistent behavioral patterns. This line of research emerged as one of the first investigations into the nature of effective leadership.
Trait Theory of Leadership: The Rationale
Carlyle’s Approach
Carlyle’s theory of leadership was based on the rationale that:
Even today, books, and articles tout the various characteristics necessary to become a great leader, suggesting that leadership is somehow predestined in some (or is at least more likely) while unlikely, if not impossible, in others.
Other Theories
Since the publication of Carlyle’s thesis, psychologists have examined and argued about the trait-based theory of leadership. From the 1940s to the 1970s, psychologist Ralph Melvin Stogdill suggested that leadership is the result of the interaction between the individual and the social situation and not merely the result of a predefined set of traits.
The 8 Major Theories of Leadership
Leadership Traits
According to the researchers, the traits most commonly associated with great leadership include:
Controversy on the Trait Theory
Early studies on leadership focused on the differences between leaders and followers and assumed that people in leadership positions display more leadership traits than those in subordinate positions.
Researchers found, however, that relatively few traits could be used to distinguish between leaders and followers. For example, leaders tend to be great communicators.Leaders also tend to be higher in traits such asextroversion, self-confidence, and height, but these differences tended to be small.
There are obvious flaws in the trait-based theory. While proponents suggest that certain traits are characteristic of strong leaders, those who possess the traits don’t always become leaders.
Some have suggested that this may due tosituational variablesin which leadership skills only emerge when an opportunity for leadership arises (such as in war, during a political crisis, or in the absence of leadership).
Meanwhile, others have taken a contingency approach to leadership in which certain traits can be more effective in some situations and less so in others. Opinions vary on what those traits are and to what degree they can predict success, if at all.
Leadership in the Internet Age
More controversial yet is the contention that some people don’t have the traits to become leaders. Such a belief inherently overlooks social and economic inequities that limit, if not entirely erase, a person’s potential to lead.
It also overlooks the changing economy and how leadership is defined when connections are today made both online and offline.
As outlets for leadership continue to change (such as with social media and e-commerce), the traits needed to succeed are different simply because there are fewer intermediaries. Within this realm, the ability to influence is arguably more important than the ability to lead.
The Takeaway
Although these traits are often linked to effective leadership, it is important to note that few leaders possess all of these traits. Generally, a strong leader has many, but not all, of these qualities.
Aspects of the situation also play an important role in determining if people can lead well. In many cases, it is the interaction between these traits and the situation that determines leadership quality.
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6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Spector, B.Carlyle, Freud, and the great man theory more fully considered.Leadership.2016;12(2). doi: 10.1177/1742715015571392
Kumar S, Adhish VS, Deoki N.Making sense of theories of leadership for capacity building.Indian J Community Med. 2014;39(2):82-6. doi:10.4103/0970-0218.132721
Oakleaf L.Trait theory of leadership. Organization and Administration in Recreation, Sport and Leisure Management, Missouri Western. November 2016.
Nichols AL, Cottrell CA.What Do People Desire in Their Leaders? the Role of Leadership Level on Trait Desirability.The Leadership Quarterly. August 2014;25(4):711-729. DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2014.04.001.
Jiang J, Chen C, Dai B, et al.Leader emergence through interpersonal neural synchronization.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2015;112(14):4274-9. PMID:25831535
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