Week 1a Flashcards
(12 cards)
Is there a single definition of leadership?
No, there is no one single definition
What are a couple of common themes in leadership definitions?
Common goals, collective directions
What is trait based leadership
Leadership as a set of porperties or traits posessed in varying degrees by different people
What is the “great man” theory of leadership
Linked to trait based theory. Understanding great men of the past, identify key personal charecteristics. 1840s
Does the trait based theory suggest leaders are born or made
Born. Says leadership resides in select people, leadership is for those with special, innate talents
Physical traits associated with leadership (trait based leadership)
- Tall
- Heavy
- Loud
- Deep voice
- Attractive
- Male
Leadership roles of men vs women in trait based leadership
Women: Social oriented leadership
Men: More task or goal oriented leadership. More formal positions, more power
Psychological traits of leaders in trait based leadership
- High self confidence
- More social
- Qualities associated with dominance
- Intelligence
The dark triad - traits not associated with leadership in trait based leadership theory
- Narcissism
- Too much dominance
- Machiavellianism (manipulating others for personal gain)
- Psychopathy
- Coldness, lack of empathy
- Immune to stress
- Callousness
- Disregard for rules
Trait theory of leadership strengths
- Helped identify leaders
- Dark traits are helpful boundaries for going too far
- start to the conversation
- Intuitively appealing
- Fufills need to see leaders as gifted people
- At the time, there was extensive research
- Only focus is on the leader
Trait theory of leadership weaknesses
- Very exclusionary
- Physical traits can’t be developed
- Impossible to have a “one truth view”, can’t make a single definitive list like this
- Doesn’t take into account situation or followers
- Founded on subjective interpretations
- Not useful for leadership training or development
When was the trait based theory of leadership used?
Early 1900s, most popular in the 30s-40s before skills based leadership came in.
