Did you ever think what makes great leaders unique from the rest? Is it the heredity as said in the Great Man theory or something else? Let’s find out! The Trait approach tries to emphasize identifying and analysing certain specific personality tracts that are responsible for the individual differences in all of us.
Different psychologist explained this approach in their own way
- Gordon Allport: Allport, known to be one of the pioneers in the trait approach, focused on studying the uniqueness of people. He explained traits to be neuropsychic structures that determine an individual’s behaviours.
- Robert Mc crack and Paul Costa: they were known for their five-factor model (also called the big five) consists of 5 broad dimensions of personality – openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.
- Raymond Cattell: Cattell introduced the 16 personality factors (16 pf) model, which is made to give 16 personality traits based on which one can describe and differentiate individuals.
- Hans Eysenck: Eysenck proposed the PEN model that focuses on 3 primary dimensions of personality – Psychoticism, extraversion and neuroticism.
Read More: Signs You are Born to be a Leader, According to Psychology
Understanding leadership traits w.r.t Trait approach
Similar to the great man theory, the trait approach also suggests that it’s the inherited traits that make one an exceptional leader. It is important to understand leadership traits in different contexts.
- Business: In the business context, it will be of great help to identify and develop leadership traits to select effective leaders, who are needed to lead the team, inspire them, make wise decisions and bring success to the organization some important traits that are considered in business leadership are communication skills, adaptability and strategic thinking.
- Politics: leadership traits are a game changer for somebody in politics. Politicians who have inherent traits like charisma, integrity and the ability to connect with people are proven to be most successful in making change and progress.
- Everyday life: even if you are not running a business or leading a company, leadership traits are essential in everyday life too. People who have strong leadership traits are capable of bringing changes in their society, be it family, social groups or community organizations. When you can identify these traits, you’ll be able to improve your skills and contribute meaningfully to your community.
Read More: Leadership Style And Its Psychological Impact On Employee’s Well-Being
Historical background
- Origin of the Trait approach: The Trait approach to leadership emerged in the 19th century. It began when Thomas Carlyle proposed the “great man theory”, saying leaders are born with exceptional qualities that make them great leaders.
- Early theories and proponents: Previous contributions tried to find those traits that differentiate leaders from non-leaders. Carlyle’s proposed theory emphasized traits like intelligence, charisma and decisiveness, which became the base for the trait approach.
- Evolution of the Trait approach: Progressively the Trait approach shifted its focus from describing individuals’ traits to a more inclusive view of leadership. Researchers were inquisitive to find how traits indulge with situational factors to influence leadership effectiveness.
Development of understanding of Leadership traits
In the present time, we have several contemporary theories that consider a wider range of characters other than inherent qualities. Such theories emphasise the combination of traits, skills and behaviours that make one an effective leader. Examples, Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, known for his progressive ideas, inclusive leadership approach and communication skills. Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand admired for her kindness, crisis management skills and innovative policies. Other leaders like Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Barack Obama are known for their intellect, vision and analytical skills.
How Self-confidence contributes to effective leadership
Self-confidence contributes strength to effective leadership.
- Decision-making: Self-confident leaders are better at decision-making and can make tough decisions.
- Influence: A leader’s faith in themselves will set an example of impeccable confidence in their team.
- Resilience: self-confident leaders are great at handling challenges and setbacks. They can navigate through difficult situations with grace.
Stories of leaders known for their integrity
- Abraham Lincoln: Remembered for his honesty and integrity. Overcome civil war with the commitment to preserve the union and abolishing slavery.
- Nelson Mandela: Widely known for his unwavering integrity during the fight against apartheid.
- Mahatma Gandhi: known for his non-violent resistance and truth.
Practical tips for developing leadership traits
- Communication: It’s one of the important skills to be a great leader. Practice active listening, be clear and direct in your messages and give feedback regularly.
- Empathy: Be empathetic towards others in your team, understand their perspective and acknowledge what they feel. Be a supportive leader.
- Decision-making: It’s important to have good decision-making skills to thrive in your business. Take calculative and well-researched risks. Try to learn from success and failure both.
- Adaptability: In today’s time, it’s an important skill to adapt well, be flexible, keep learning, to keep growing. Encourage novelty and innovation in your team.
- Delegation: You must learn to delegate for long-term success. It’s impossible to even think that you can do everything on your own.
- Integrity: You need to be very honest and faithful. There should be transparency in your actions, ethical standards should be maintained. Show consistency in your actions for others to trust you as their leader.
- Inspiration: Work to inspire and encourage your team by setting a good example. Share your thoughts, ideas and vision. Show acceptance of their ideas as well, as recognise their efforts and achievements.
The Trait theory focuses on finding and acknowledging certain traits that contribute to effective leadership. The theory gives valuable insights into understanding leadership. Traits like empathy, communication skills, integrity and adaptability are essential in leadership. It’s equally important to acknowledge that effective leadership is a complex compilation of factors other than traits.
References +
- Kendra Cherry, Mse. (2022, October 20). Do great leaders share certain traits? see what the research says. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-trait-theory-of-leadership-2795322
- Shonk, K. (2024a, March 8). The trait theory of leadership. PON. https://www.pon.harvard.edu/daily/leadership-skills-daily/the-trait-theory-of-leadership/
- GeeksforGeeks. (2023, December 1). Trait theory of leadership. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/trait-theory-of-leadership/
- Understanding the trait theory of leadership (and if it works). BetterUp. (n.d.). https://www.betterup.com/blog/trait-theory-of-leadership
