2. Outline:
What is Leadership?
Leadership Theories
Classical Leadership
Contemporary Leadership
Aesop’s Fable: The crab and his mother
3. What is Leadership?
Northouse (2004) defined leadership as “the process
whereby an individual influences a group of
individuals to achieve a common goal” (p. 3).
Leadership is very important for the effectiveness of an
organization as well the success of a project or an
activity.
4. Leadership Theories
Great Man Theory
Trait Theory
Behavioral Theory
Contingency Theory
Relationship Theory
Participative Theory
Management Theory
5. Great Man Theory
This theory was called "great man" because it focused
on identifying the innate qualities and characteristics
possessed by great social, political, and military
leaders.
According to this theory, capacity for leadership is
inborn, that is, a person is a natural born leader. These
born leaders are highly influential individuals, gifted
with divine inspiration and the right characteristics
like charisma, intelligence, wisdom, political skills etc.
with a capability to have a decisive historical impact.
6. Great Man Theory
Description
Leaders are often from aristocracy, rarely from lower
classes
In times of need great man would arise almost by
magic.
For exa. - Jesus, Mohammad & Buddah
Assumptions
Leaders are born not made
Great leaders arise when there is a great need.
7. Traits Theory (1930's - 1940's)
Essentially, the Traits Theory postulates that personal
characteristics (e.g. personality traits, cognitive skills,
interpersonal skills) determine an individual's
potential for leadership roles (Furham, 2005). Thus,
leadership is something intrinsic to the individual.
This approach emphasizes leader’s attributes such as
personality, motives, values, and skills (Yukl, 2006).
8. Traits Theory (1930's - 1940's)
Assumptions
People are born with inherited traits
Some traits are particularly suited to leadership
People who become good leaders have the right
combination of traits
9. BEHAVIOR THEORY
This theory advocates that leadership is shown by acts
rather than traits and that the leadership is the result of
effective role behavior.
The behavioral theory concentrated on the unique
behavioral aspects found in leaders that enabled them to
attain effective leadership.
Behavioral theories of leadership are based upon the belief
that great leaders are made, not born.
According to this theory, people can learn to become
leaders through teaching and observation.
10. BEHAVIOR THEORY
Descriptions
Do not seek inborn traits or capabilities rather they look at
what leaders actually do
Easy to teach & learn then to adopt 'traits' or 'capabilities'.
Assumptions
Leaders can be made rather than are born
Successful leadership is based in definable, learnable
behavior
11. Contingency Theory
There is no one best way of leading and that a
leadership style that is effective in some situations may
not be successful in others.
Leaders who are very effective at one place and time
may become unsuccessful either when transplanted to
another situation or when the factors around them
change.
12. Contingency Theory
Assumptions
The leader's ability to lead is contingent upon various
situational factors, including the leader's preferred
style, the capabilities and behaviors of followers and
also various other situational factors.
13. Relationship Theory
Relationship theory, also known as transformational
theories focus upon the connections formed between
leaders and followers. Transformational leaders
motivate and inspire people by helping group
members see the importance and higher good of the
task.
14. Relationship Theory
Assumptions
These leaders are focused on the performance of group
members, but also want every person to fulfill their
potential. Leaders with this style often have high
ethical and moral standards.
15. Management Theory
Management theories, also known as transactional
theories, focus on the role of supervision,
organization, and group performance. These theories
base leadership on a system of rewards and
punishments. Managerial theories are often used in
business; when employees are successful, they are
rewarded and when they fail, they are reprimanded or
punished.
16. Participative Theory
Participative leadership theory suggests that the ideal
leadership style is one that takes the input of others
into account. These leaders encourage participation
and contributions from group members and help
group members feel more relevant and committed to
the decision-making process. In participative theories,
however, the leader retains the right to allow the input
of others.
17. Classical and Contemporary
Leadership Styles
Among various leadership styles, classical and
contemporary leadership styles are mostly in
discussion over the centuries. In fact, in the majority
of organizations today, either of these two styles of
leadership could be found active.
18. 1. Classical Leadership style:
It is almost an autocratic leadership style. In this style,
the leader takes the leading role and works from the
front. It was the most prevalent leadership style during
the 1960s to 1980s. The leader is motivated by his own
ego and determines a future plan of action himself. He
takes less advice from the peers or juniors, and tries to
influence the employees through motivational speech,
and providing fringe benefits. In this leadership style,
the leader keeps little confidence on the subordinates
and only likes to direct them as per his own plan.
