Premium Essay

Comparison and Contrast of Trait-Based, Situational, and Transformational Leadership Theories

In: Business and Management

Submitted By ming1339
Words 6280
Pages 26
COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TRAIT-BASED, SITUATIONAL, AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORIES

1

Comparison and Contrast of Trait-Based, Situational, and Transformational Leadership Theories

Ciprian Patrulescu

Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2132126

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TRAIT-BASED, SITUATIONAL, AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORIES

2

Abstract This research paper compares and contrasts several leadership theories, the evolution of the theories, and future research implications. The leadership theories discussed in the paper include the trait-based, situational, and transformational leadership theories. Trait-based theories represented the earliest attempts to quantitatively study leaders and leadership effectiveness by focusing on the innate skills and traits of the person. Situational theories expanded to explore the influence of different situations on leadership. Lastly, transformational leadership theories further expanded on the role of the leader in motivating followers through inspiration.

Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2132126

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TRAIT-BASED, SITUATIONAL, AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORIES

3

Comparison and Contrast of Trait-based, Situational, and Transformational Leadership Theories There are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have tried to define leadership (Stogdill, 1974). The definition of leadership by Weathersby (1999, p.5) captures the essence of what it is to be a leader: “Leadership focuses on the creation of a common vision. It means motivating people to contribute to the vision and encouraging them to align their self-interest with that of the organization. It means persuading, not commanding”. Zaccaro (2007) asserts that leadership focuses on people and involves exerting personal influence over the

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Leadership

...I. Introduction Leadership has gained more attention of researchers from the whole world. Leadership is needed to corporations because it could bring extra assets to organizations and increase the line of bottom ultimately. There is a wide variety of theoretical approaches to analysis the complexities process of leadership. The essay will introduce three main leadership approaches: Trait approach, Situational & Contingency approach and Transformational approach. These approaches have their similarities and distinction. Compare and contrast these three research strands and critically discuss what they contribute to our understanding of leadership effectiveness. Discuss with example to indentify how I understand about these approaches by using real organization and how they work and help the organizations more efficiency. II. Three Leadership Approaches 1. The Trait Approach As one of the earliest theories of leadership, Trait approach suggests that certain individuals have special inborn characteristics or qualities which support people to be leaders, and that it is these qualities that differentiate them from non-leaders. (Northouse P.G 2013) Personal attributes or characteristics of leaders, such as physical and personality trait, competencies and values are the key ideas of trait approach. (Gardner. J.W 1989) Self-confidence, intelligence, ambition, perseverance, assertiveness, emotional stability, creativity, and motivation such a list of characteristics is...

Words: 3256 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Determining the Perfect Position

...so that she will most benefit the organization and be most successful. The following paragraphs will discuss the most effective position for the student, the strengths, and weaknesses of that student’s leadership style, a compare, and contrast of leadership theories, and a personal leadership style model. Position Most Effective for Student The student made the decision that the most effective position for her in this new restructuring is in the human resources department as the Payroll Manager. The student has extensive knowledge concerning payroll issues, child support orders, garnishments, and her computer skills allows her to enter necessary information into spreadsheets or personnel records. She is also familiar with taking deductions from employees’ checks for clinic fees or other activities in the organization that requires the employee to pay a fee. This position allows her to interact with the other employees plus will benefit the organization by staying current with court orders and knowing that employee records are up-to-date. This particular position will allow the employee to work on something that interests her and therefore mean more to her. She can spend her time working productively for the organization while completing work she enjoys. Personal Leadership Style Model This...

Words: 1036 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Application Paper

...HCX XXX California State University XXXX XXXX Dr. XXXXX 1. The Situation/Challenge: Organizational leadership challenges occur at various levels within health care settings. The model and behavior of a leader is detrimental to the overall team effort and that of one’s ability as a manager to effectively motivate, inspire, and empower staff. Employee motivation and empowerment is a critical asset to one’s dedication and commitment to an organization and it is necessary that leaders act upon critical factors of contemporary leadership theories and approaches to enhance the working experience in conjunction to management of health care personnel. a. Who, What, Where, When Why: Within UCLA health system’s ambulatory specialties, there are various leaders and appointed managers who work with different teams of diverse personnel who are under a lot of stress as a result of high work load and departmental demand. Working in health care is a stressor in its own. There are various responsibilities and duties placed upon staff and the possibility of job dissatisfaction and burnout are very high. Unfortunately, not always is the best leadership approach enforced when addressing departmental concerns or issues with staff. It is important that health care managers consider and enforce the most effective leadership approach based on situational occurrences and factors such as one’s emotional intelligence. “Emotional intelligence involves the ability to monitor one’s...

Words: 2242 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Leadership

... | |Word Count |1975 |Total Pages | 9 | CONTRASTING STYLE OF TWO LEADERS The traces of Leader and the act to guide have always been since the beginning of mankind. Numerous theories have been evolved; definitions have been coined by various famous and renowned authors, academicians and also from the various institutes. In today’s business active world lot of attention have been shed on leaders and various notions of leadership linked with them. Peter Drucker, in his work in 1954 pointed out that “Leadership is of utmost importance. Indeed there is no substitute for it. But leadership cannot be created or promoted. It cannot be taught or learned”. In an orthodox composition on ‘Kantian theory of Leadership’, Bowie mentioned that “leader has a hierarchical and even elitist connotation, opposite to Kant’s moral (basically egalitarian) philosophy” (Bowie, N, 2000).As per Machaivelli “power was seen as the sole purpose of leadership”. (Machiavelli, N, 1952). Were as academicians like Schiro, J. B. (1999) whose view is more vigorous; “Leadership is an elusive concept, so there are many definitions of...

Words: 2616 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Three Most Pressing Issues in Organizational Behavior and the Practices That Might Be Implemented

...better relationships by achieving human objectives, organizational objectives, and social objectives. In this paper we propose to study leadership, motivation and organizational conflict, as among the most pressing issues in organizational behavior. Further, we shall discuss how these issues can be addressed. Critical role of motivation It is critical for managers to understand why and how employees are motivated if they are to make full use of a worker’s capacity to learn and perform. For a manager, motivating employees to learn and perform at their best is a complex and difficult challenge. No two individuals, that is, no two employees including the two who are doing the same job are alike. At any time two different individuals will have two distinct needs and desires. Moreover, what motivates an employee to perform well today may not motivate him the next year, or next week, or even next hour. However, a motivated set of employees represent tremendous promise. When employees are motivated performance, learning, and satisfaction can improve dramatically from which everyone including the organization benefits (Stroh et al, p.62). Douglas McGregor in 1960 saw the merit in the relationship between motivation and behavior. According to him, managers motivate employees by one of the two basic approaches, which he termed Theory X and Theory Y. Theory X is...

Words: 2709 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Theory of Leadership Style

...TERM PAPER ON Theory of Leadership Style Submitted To Md. Sahidur Rahman Associate Professor, Department of Management Studies University of Chittagong Submitted by Session: 2005-2006 Department of Management Studies University of Chittagong 07 June, 2011 University of Chittagong Letter of submission Date: 07 June, 2011 Mr. Md. Sahidur Rahman Associate Professor, Department of Management Studies University of Chittagong. Subject: Prayer for obliging the ‘TERM PAPER’. Sir, With due respect, beg to focus your kind attention with the following fact that as biased requirement of the BBA Programmed. I had studied many feature, journal, research material, reports, and professional papers to collect the information regarding Theories of Leadership. And I have tried my best to build and maintain follower ship by earning the respect of those they lead. I hope that you will accept my TERM PAPER considering its distinctiveness. Yours truly, ………………… Department of Management Studies University of Chittagong Acknowledgement At first I want to give thanks to the Almighty Allah who is our creator and has given us life to live on the earth. That’s why, I like to pray to Him and want His blessings to lead our life properly. The Term paper could not have been prepared without the generous contribution...

Words: 13423 - Pages: 54

Premium Essay

Bus520

...Leadership style approaches: Richard Branson’s Virgin Group LTD Case Study Sandra Cole Strayer University BUS 520 – Leadership and Organizational Behavior Professor: Dr. Jones - Ph.D. 05 January 2011 Leadership style approaches: Richard Branson’s Virgin Group LTD Case Study Branson’s leadership style in terms of the leadership models addressed in Chapters 10 and 11 and evaluates the likely effectiveness of that style in the U.S. today In determining the leadership style of Sir. Richard Branson one of the most influential, creative and charismatic leaders of business today has admired the business sense and innovative leadership style of Steve Jobs. Oddly enough, both Steve Jobs and Richard Branson both have a flair for business but both have two totally different personalities and leadership styles. It is odd to see the admiration of Steve Jobs peak the curiosity of Richard Branson as they had different ways of doing business and working with people (Branson, 2011). Leadership in the eyes of Richard Branson An article written by Richard Branson in the United Kingdom press media release in the “Telegraph”, he makes a comparison and contrast between he and Steve Jobs. Branson first identifies Steve Jobs as an Autocratic and directive leader from a situational leadership perspective. Richard Branson on the other hand sees himself being more delegative, participative, and selling as he relates to his employees and giving them their room to breathe and...

Words: 1640 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Leadership, Motivation and Organizational Conflict

...LEADERSHIP, MOTIVATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT MOST PRESSING TOPICS IN ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR Organization behavior is the study of behaviors and attitudes of people in an organization. After all human behaviors and attitudes determine effectiveness of any organization. The approach used in studying OB is the system approach. In other words, this approach interprets people-organization relationships in terms of the whole person, whole group, whole organization, and whole social system. Its purpose is to build better relationships by achieving human objectives, organizational objectives, and social objectives. In this paper we propose to study leadership, motivation and organizational conflict, as among the most pressing issues in organizational behavior. Further, we shall discuss how these issues can be addressed. 1. Critical role of motivation It is critical for managers to understand why and how employees are motivated if they are to make full use of a worker’s capacity to learn and perform. For a manager, motivating employees to learn and perform at their best is a complex and difficult challenge. No two individuals, that is, no two employees including the two who are doing the same job are alike. At any time two different individuals will have two distinct needs and desires. Moreover, what motivates an employee to perform well today may not motivate him the next year, or next week, or even next hour. However, a motivated set of employees represent tremendous...

Words: 2740 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Transformational and Transactional Leaders in Higher Educationpdf

...Transformational And Transactional Leaders In Higher Education Lloyd Moman Basham Texas A&M University-Commerce Abstract This paper discusses the following issues: (1) the climate, environment, challenges, and issues in higher education; (2) an overview of leadership and its application to education; (3) transformational leadership as the current focus on concepts relating to organization leadership; (4) transactional leadership as being management by exception; and (5) a comparison of transactional and transformational leadership. Climate, Environment, Challenges, and Issues in Higher Education The growing consensus among educators and policy-makers is that the current process of education must change dramatically. A different approach is needed to prepare today’s leaders to meet tomorrow’s challenges. The new structure should enhance preparation, allowing for innovation and futuristic thinking in a collaborative setting (Rodriguez, 1999). Americans, at all levels, have had great faith in the power of education to improve their quality of life. Education has been viewed as an escape route from poverty, an antidote to intolerance born of ignorance, a primary source of national prosperity, and the foundation of democracy (Swail, 2003). Scientific and technological advances have intensified in the past two decades and for the first time in human history created a truly global community. Modern telecommunications have linked all the corners of the planet as never before. Like the...

Words: 5371 - Pages: 22

Premium Essay

Theories Of Leadership

...Distefano (Jan,1999), The earliest works on leadership can be traced back to ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans giving this field a great heritage. . Leadership has been viewed as: a) a personality attribute; b) the art of inducing compliance; c) an exercise of influence; d) a form of persuasion; e) a power relation; f ) an instrument of goal attainment; g) an effect of interaction, and h) an initiation of structure. Researchers in the early decades of this century emphasized theories of leadership related to great models that attempted to identify traits by researching characteristics of great leaders’ personalities. During this century’s World Wars personnel testing and selection programs as well as...

Words: 1292 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The Biology of Leadership

...The biology of leadership The relation between leadership, psychopathy and hormones Master thesis Economics and Business 8th of August 2012 Name student: Ricardo Westendorp Student number: 294819rw Supervisor: Wouter van den Berg The biology of leadership PREFACE Around October, 2011, I started looking for a subject to graduate on, when a neuro-economical subject, involving the connection of leadership to psychopathy and hormones, crossed my path. I had to jump into it, because this subject matched the field I am interested in. Now, 8 months later, I present you my final work and I have enjoyed working on it. I have to be honest, this product would not have been able to be written if it wasn’t for the help of certain people. Therefore, I would like to use this section, to show my gratitude to some people, that helped me along the way. First of all, I thank the Erasmus School of Economics, for providing the financial support for this research. This research would definitely not have been possible, without the financial support of the ESE. Secondly, I would like to thank my supervisor, Wouter van den Berg, who has supported me, guided me and who has contributed intellectually. I would also like to thank Kashin Hau, who has made great contributions to the construction of the leadership questionnaire. Also, I would like to thank Sarstedt, who provided 500 saliva tubes. I am very thankful for the help of my parents. A great contribution has been made by my parents, Wim Westendorp...

Words: 24187 - Pages: 97

Premium Essay

Managing Projects

...Project code: 9273 M1 Report Word limit/Words Covered: 5000/5079 Research Report Title: LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT ACROSS DIFFERENT CULTURES - HOTEL LEICESTER MARRIOTT, UK http://issuu.com/sanjaykumarguptaa/docs/project-report-recruitment-and-selection-process Table of Contents Introduction 1 Introduction to subject area 1 Background of the study 1 Literature Review 3 Critical evaluation of leadership theories 3 Compare and contrast of leadership style across different cultures 6 Critical evaluation of motivational theories 7 Compare and contrast motivational techniques across different cultures 8 Critical evaluation of theories for managing cultural diversity 9 Secondary research method 10 Primary research method 10 Interview 10 Findings and Discussion 11 Findings from secondary research 11 Managing diversified customers 11 Recommendations and Conclusion 13 Conclusion 13 Recommendations 13 References (Harvard Style) 17 Introduction Introduction to subject area It is a well known fact that success of the hospitality industry depends on the high quality services provided to the customer. It is the responsibility of the leaders to motivate and inspire employees to deliver a higher quality services for the success of the organization. With the increasing globalization, the leaders in the hospitality industry also come across through different challenges. Employees from diverse background...

Words: 5625 - Pages: 23

Premium Essay

How Can Leadership Be Developed

...4-1-2010 Can Leadership Be Developed by Applying Leadership Theories? : An Examination of Three Theory-based Approaches to Leadership Development Joshua C. Laguerre Rhode Island College, JOSHUA.LAGUERRE@gmail.com Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.ric.edu/honors_projects Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Human Resources Management Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, and the Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons Recommended Citation Laguerre, Joshua C., "Can Leadership Be Developed by Applying Leadership Theories? : An Examination of Three Theory-based Approaches to Leadership Development" (2010). Honors Projects Overview. Paper 42. http://digitalcommons.ric.edu/honors_projects/42 This Honors is brought to you for free and open access by the Rhode Island College Honors Projects at Digital Commons @ RIC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Projects Overview by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ RIC. For more information, please contact hbenaicha@ric.edu, andrewjasondavis@gmail.com. CAN LEADERSHIP BE DEVELOPED BY APPLYING LEADERSHIP THEORIES?: AN EXAMINATION OF THREE THEORY-BASED APPROACHES TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT By Joshua C. Laguerre An Honors Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Honors in The Department of Management and Marketing The School of Management Rhode Island College 2010 1 Can Leadership Be Developed?...

Words: 11568 - Pages: 47

Premium Essay

Women in Leadership

...Secondly, I would like to send a special gratitude to my respondent Puan Nor Rubaiha Mohamed Nor, CEO of Yayasan UEM, UEM Group Berhad. Last but not least, a special thanks goes to my husband, family and friends for putting a smile on my face every single day. ABSTRACT The topic of the thesis is Women in Leadership and Management. This essay concerns the subject of thesis work is to make research of women leadership attributes and management styles. In order to get clearer details about that, I have made some investigations or researches on women leadership starting from definition of it, followed by the data collection in order to strengthen the research topic. Data shows that women continue to increase their share of managerial positions but unfortunately the rate of progress is slow and uneven. Therefore, I decided to examine the barriers experienced by a woman leader and how a woman managerial approach, such as transformational leadership style, can be effective for organization to reach their goals. It is so obvious that leadership is normally dominated by men. While women have some advantages and disadvantages, also prejudice and differ style of leadership. It is very...

Words: 19291 - Pages: 78

Premium Essay

Examination of Leadership to Determine a Direct Correlation Between Leadership Style and Ethical Decision Making

...AN EXAMINATION OF LEADERSHIP TO DETERMINE A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN LEADERSHIP STYLE AND ETHICAL DECISION MAKING Michael S. Huckaby BBA 4751 Business Ethics Professor Fernando Chavez Leadership is a complex and ever evolving skill-set. Good leaders not only guide behaviors of followers, but lead them and their organization to achieve common objectives. Good leaders have an ability to adapt to any setting so everyone feels empowered to contribute creatively to solving problems. Leaders of various levels of success have been studied throughout history, some good, some bad, but everlasting questions are always at the forefront of studying leadership: What is a good leader? What is the right approach to leadership or style of leadership? Do certain types of leaders produce better results? Are ethical leaders always the best leaders? If a single answer to these questions existed, perhaps society could build the mold of the perfect leader and distribute it throughout the world to solve the greater problems of society. However, this approach is unrealistic, so society is left to explore leadership in an effort to understand what makes a good leader. The primary purpose of this research paper is to critically examine whether a direct correlation exists between leadership style and ethical decision making. To answer this question, the author will examine each leadership style in terms of its definition, its multi-faceted dimensions or characteristics, and the associated...

Words: 3994 - Pages: 16