Power, influence, contingency theories, traits and skills
How power is won or lost, and how much power a leader should have, are also discussed, as
are the traits and skills approach to leadership in Chapter 7. Possibly the most researched area
of leadership is the traits approach, and here the findings of the most relevant aspects of
personality for effective leadership are summarised and integrated, including the “big five”
personality traits (surgency, conscientiousness, agreeableness, adjustment and intelligence).
Personality traits are considered especially relevant to successful leadership, and those
highlighted as the most pertinent include energy levels and stress tolerance, self-confidence,
internal control orientation, emotional maturity and integrity.
The study of a number of theories is also applied in Chapter 8, which considers how leader traits
or behaviours are related to indicators of leadership effectiveness in different situations. Five
principal contingency theories are summarised and reviewed. The research findings and
methodologies are examined, and models, tables and guidelines for their application enhance
the chapter. There is much use of psychology and sociology in many of the research studies.