traditional leadership = men

Question 1

association of leadership with more masculine qualities.

Answer 1

• referred to as the “great man theory” or “masculine leadership norms”
• has created barriers for individuals who do not fit the criteria
• this bias can impact the advancement of people, particularly women.

Question 2

Trait based approach to leadership

Answer 2

• focuses on the personal attributes of leaders (physical and personality, competencies and values) to facilitate the selection of effective leaders
  -until 1940s, a belief still existed that effective leaders must have common traits.
• it was believed that a leader has specific traits, and if someone had these traits, they were valuable leaders.
  this all started with study of the great man theory

Question 3

the great man theory

Answer 3

• origins: Thomas Carlyle 1840
• he studied the history of the world and came up with the understanding that there are different types of leaders.
• god, prophet, poet, priest, philosopher… all men. masculine characteristics = good leader
• characteristics associated with a good leader:
  white, heterosexual, able-bodied, upper social class

this understanding = still evident within organizations. (google leadership = man)

Question 4

potential barriers

Answer 4

1) Stereotypes and bias
stereotypes associated with masculine leadership qualities - which can lead to bias in perception of individuals who do not conform.
2) double standards
higher expectations placed on those who do not conform to these traditional norms
- this can create a challenging environment for individuals who feel like they need to prove themselves more than their counterparts

Question 5

how to overcome these barriers

Answer 5

• effort to challenge stereotypes
• promote inclusivity
  organisations benefit from diverse leadership as it brings a variety of perspectives and experiences = innovation and overall success