Q. 3 Discuss the various theories of leadership in detail.
Course: School Leadership
Course Code 8618
Topics
- Theories of Leadership
- Various Theories of Leadership
- Great Man Theory, Trait Theory, Situational Theory, Behavioral Theory
Answer:
Leadership theories are schools of
thought brought forward to explain how and why certain individuals become
leaders. The theories emphasize the traits and behaviors that individuals can adopt
to boost their own leadership abilities.
Early studies on the psychology of
leadership pointed to the fact that leadership skills are inherent abilities
that people are born with. It was not until recently that formal leadership
theories emerged, despite leadership becoming a concept of interest at the
beginning of time.
Leadership at a Glance
A leader is crucial to the success of
every team. Take an orchestra, for instance, one that consists of all the best
musicians in the world but lacks a conductor. Even though every member of the orchestra
can play perfectly by themselves, they will only produce an incompatible melody
in the absence of a conductor. The same concept applies to communities,
companies, and countries. Without a leader, nothing will ever run smoothly.
So, what makes leaders who they are?
Why are some people elected as managers and presidents while the rest remain
followers? Leadership theories were developed to find answers to these questions.
Key Leadership Theories
Great Man Theory
According to the Great Man Theory
(which should perhaps be called the Great Person Theory), leaders are born with
just the right traits and abilities for leading – charisma, intellect,
confidence, communication skills, and social skills. The theory suggests that
the ability to lead is inherent – that the best leaders are born, not made. It
defines leaders as valiant, mythic, and ordained to rise to leadership when the
situation arises. The term “Great Man” was adopted at the time because
leadership was reserved for males, particularly in military leadership.
Trait Theory
The Trait Theory is very similar to
the Great Man Theory. It is founded on the characteristics of different leaders
– both the successful and unsuccessful ones. The theory is used to predict effective
leadership. Usually, the identified characteristics are compared to those of
potential leaders to determine their likelihood of leading effectively.
Scholars researching the trait theory
try to identify leadership characteristics from different perspectives. They
focus on physiological attributes such as appearance, weight, and height; demographics
such as age, education, and familial background; and intelligence, which encompasses
decisiveness, judgment, and knowledge.
Contingency Theory
The Contingency Theory emphasizes
different variables in a specific setting that determine the style of
leadership best suited for the said situation. It is founded on the principle
that no one leadership style applies to all situations. Renowned
leadership researchers Hodgson and White believe that the best form of
leadership is one that finds the perfect balance between behaviors, needs, and
context. Good leaders not only possess the right qualities but they’re also
able to evaluate the needs of their followers and the situation at hand. In
summary, the contingency theory suggests that great leadership is a combination
of many key variables.
Situational Theory
The Situational Theory is similar to
the Contingency Theory as it also proposes that no one leadership style
supersedes others. As its name suggests, the theory implies that leadership depends
on the situation at hand. Put simply, leaders should always crosspond their
leadership to the respective situation by assessing certain variables such as
the type of task, nature of followers, and more.
As proposed by US professor Paul
Hersey and leadership guru Ken Blanchard, the situational theory blends two key
elements: the leadership style and the followers’ maturity levels. Hersey and
Blanchard classified maturity into four different degrees:
M1 – Team members do not possess the
motivation or tactical skills to complete necessary jobs.
M2 – Team members are willing and
ambitious to achieve something, but they lack the necessary ability.
M3 – Team members possess the skills
and capacity to accomplish tasks, but they’re not willing to take
accountability.
M4 – Team members possess all the
right talents and are motivated to complete projects.
According to situational theory, a leader exercises a
particular form of leadership based on the maturity level of his or her team.
Behavioral Theory
In Behavioral Theory, the focus is on
the specific behaviors and actions of leaders rather than their traits or
characteristics. The theory suggests that effective leadership is the result of
many learned skills.
Individuals need three primary skills
to lead their followers – technical, human, and conceptual skills. Technical
skills refer to a leader’s knowledge of the process or technique; human skills mean
that one can interact with other individuals; while conceptual skills
enable the leader to come up with ideas for running the organization or society
smoothly.
Applying Leadership Theories at the Workplace
To a great extent, leadership
theories have helped form and shape the kind of governance that exists today.
Many aspects of these theories can be applied to help one improve his or her leadership
skills.
Maximize Your Strengths
As proposed by the Trait Theory,
effective leadership depends on the traits that one possesses. Leaders should
strive to focus on their strengths rather than their weaknesses. The strengths
vary from one leader to another and may include:
A strong will is crucial to staying
resilient and seeing leaders through difficult times. No matter how challenging
the situation may be, a strong-willed leader can find inner strength and
carry on until he overcomes all challenges.
A decisive nature is another strength
that some leaders possess. Decisiveness means that when others may be
perplexed, a leader can calmly assess the situation and choose one action to
unite everyone. But, since they may not always make the right decisions,
they must also be willing to learn from their mistakes.
Be Inclusive Leaders
Some of the more complex situational
theories emphasize focusing on people. It means that they acknowledge individual
people to be their greatest assets and not just mere numbers in their workforce.
Being an inclusive leader requires that one constantly involves other people in
their leadership, whether it be by always welcoming the feedback of others or
delegating more responsibility to others than other forms of leadership.
Key Takeaways
There are numerous ways of defining
leadership. Some leadership theories attempt to explain what differentiates a
leader, while some explain how great leaders come to be. The Great Man Theory
believes that the inherent traits that one is born with contribute to great
leadership.
Situational Theory recommends leaders adopt a leadership style depending on the situation at hand, while Behavioral Theory is all about learning the skills necessary to become a
good leader. Leadership theories don’t only exist in history. They are concepts
with actionable advice that can be adopted by many, from executive managers to
community leaders and government officials.
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