Assignment on

Leadership theory and traits

Submitted to

Sir zafar –uz-zuman

Submitted by s

Ayesha yaseen

Roll#007

MBO-2nd semester

Subject

Art of leadership and motivation

COMSATS institute of information technology Lahore

Leadership theories and studies

Leadership is that process which covers three points. One is socially influence, second leaders

are nothing without leadership qualities and third one is leaders focus is on achieving

organizational goals.

Trait approach

Leaders have specific characteristics. Leaders are born not made. They have specific qualities by

birth. There are three different ways 1) physical 2) mental 3) social trait through which

effectiveness of people can be examined. Ralph study and first conclusion tells us that there is

no specific trait which differ leader from common people. Trait theory has several problems.

Because there are different point of view on same conduct were found. And there was no

concept of situational variables which measures leader’s effectiveness.

Leadership behavior approach

This theory states that behavior is important than traits. There are two behavior theories, Ohio

state university and university of Michigan. Ohio state study (1940-1950) states that there are

two aspects one is consolidating and other is initiating. Consolidating focus on human needs

and initiating structure focus on work, process, and regulations. While university of Michigan

study shows that there are two centered employee centered and job centered. Employee

centered focus on employee satisfaction and job centered focus on cost cutting, task and

efficiency. Managerial grid is also used to measure effectiveness of leaders focus on people

consideration and task consideration. There are five different dimensions. High people

consideration and low task consideration comes in country club. High people consideration and

high task consideration comes in team management. Low task consideration and low people

consideration comes at impoverished management. High consideration and low task

consideration comes at authority compliance.

Contingency approach

Contingency theory suggests that organizational work place and situational factors are

important. In 1967’s fielder theory suggest that organizational performance depend upon

effectiveness of followers work. Ad extent to which leaders performance and controlled and

effected by situations. It focuses on leader member relation a task structure. Path goal (1971

Robert house) suggests that leadership behavior depend upon follower’s qualities and work

environment characteristics. Leaders should motivate followers toward achieving

organizational goals. This theory was criticized because it does not consider contingency

factors. Leader’s participation model related to followers participation and also focus on

leader’s behavior. Situational leadership theory focuses on subordinate’s ability to complete

specific task. Focuses on task orients and relationship oriented. Behavior effectiveness of these

two behaviors depends upon follower’s maturity.

Recent development

Leader member exchange

This theory tells about the relationship between followers and its leaders. If relationship is

stronger effective outcomes could be achieved. Leaders divide their subordinates into two

groups in in-group and out-group. In in-group have close relationship with leaders and fully

participated in decision making followers in out0group not involve in these activities.

Transformational leadership theory

This theory tells us that leaders can convert badly into good. There is difference between

transactional leadership and transformational leadership. Transactional leadership focus on

rewards. But transformational leadership focus on co ordination work activates.

Substitutes for leadership theory

Theory tells us detail about the lack of stronger empirical support between follower’s

satisfaction and their performance and leader’s behavior and trait. Leaders behavior may be

task oriented and relationship oriented.