The first systematic effort by psychologists and other researchers to understand leadership was the attempt to identify the
personal characteristics of leaders. This approach assumed that
leaders share certain inborn personality traits. This view that
leaders are born and not made is still popular amonglaypersons,
though not among professional researchers. What are the traits?
Following are some of the traits that leaders possess:
1.Confidence.
2.Sense of direction (clear goals)
3.Human insight
4.Discipline
5.clarity of tasks
6.Consistency
7.Hard work
8.Motivate
9.Good communication skills
10.Integrity
11.Honesty
In searching for measurable leadership traits, researchers
have taken two approaches:
(1) Comparing the traits of those who have emerged as
leadership with the traits of those who have not; and
(2) Comparing the traits of effective leaders with those
of ineffective leaders.
Leaders and Non-leaders
It is true that leaders as a group have been found to be
brighter, more extroverted, and more self-confident than non
leaders. So some of the traits identified may be the results of
leadership experience rather than of leadership ability i.e.,
people who get more opportunity to interact may acquire some
of the traits of leaders.
Effective & Ineffective Leaders
Comparing the characteristics of effective and ineffective
leaders are more recent studies. One study did find that
intelligence, initiative, and self-assurance was associated
with high managerial performance. The study also found that
manager's supervisory ability for better performance was most
important.
Concepts
Expectancy theory:The theory explains that people try
to assess the response of their actions and expect something in
return.
Leader: A person who leads.
Leadership:It is a quality or a trait that leaders possess
that makes them unique.
Managerial leadership:It is the leadership that
managers exercise in organization to achieve goals.