Trait theory

Question 1

Great man theory

Answer 1

• Great Man Theory proposed that the fate of humanity lay in the hands of certain special men who were ‘natural born leaders’
• From as early as the mid-1800’s, researchers sought to study ‘great leaders’ from history to identify the personality traits that made them effective leaders
• Proposed that the fate of humanity lay in the hands of certain special men who were ‘natural born leaders’

Question 2

Galton

Answer 2

• Galton proposed that leadership is a rare and special ability possessed only by certain ‘extraordinary’ individuals who are capable of generating the radical change that ‘ordinary’ people cannot
• Galton proposed that these unique abilities are part of these people’s genetic makeup and therefore leadership must be hereditary.

Question 3

List of Traits

Answer 3

Adaptable to situations
Alert to social environment
Ambitious and achievement-orientated
Assertive
Cooperative
Decisive
Dependable
Dominant (desire to influence others)
Energetic (high activity level)
Persistent
Self-confident
Tolerant of stress
Willing to assume responsibility

Question 4

The Stoghill Critique

Answer 4

• The number of times a trait had been studied was not necessarily proof of its importance for leadership. Just because some traits had been studied more often did not prove they were the traits that made people good leaders. For example, intellectual skills were identified in fewer studies, but this did not prove they were not as important.
• The list of traits became so long it became virtually useless as a guide for organizations who wanted to know how to select leaders.
• Stogdill also argued that just having these traits does not make someone a leader. He proposed that leaders must display the behaviours and characteristics that are viewed as relevant to the situation. In other words, they must be viewed by followers to have the types of abilities, skills, knowledge and values that are needed to address the challenges of that particular situation

Question 5

Example of Stoghill criticism

Answer 5

• May be good in stable conditions as a leader but may not be a good leader in times of crisis

Question 6

End of trait theory

Answer 6

• The trait theory has been abandoned by most leadership scholars (1940s)
• Kirkpatrick (advocate) that key leader traits help form a goal and achieve it