LEADERSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE  SIXTH EDITION 
                             Overview
         
           Great Person Theories
         
           Historical Shifts in Trait Perspective
           What Traits Differentiate Leaders From 
            Nonleaders?
         
           How Does the Trait Approach Work?
  LEADERSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE  SIXTH EDITION                     3
   Great Person Theories
         Trait Approach: one of the first systematic
         attempts to study leadership
          “Great Man” Theories (early 1900s)
            Focused on identifying innate 
              qualities and characteristics 
              possessed by great social, political, 
              & military leaders 
                Northouse - Leadership: Theory and Practice, Sixth Edition © 2012 SAGE Publications, Inc. 
    LEADERSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE  SIXTH EDITION                                                                                                                                                                       4
            Historical Shifts in Trait Perspective
            Early 1900s                                                1930-50s                                                 1970s - Early 90s                                               Today
                                                             Traits Interacting With                                       Revival of Critical Role of                                           5 Major
      Great Man Theories                                     Traits Interacting With                                       Revival of Critical Role of                                           5 Major
      Great Man Theories Situational Demands on Leaders Traits in Leader Effectiveness Leadership Traits
                                                   Situational Demands on Leaders Traits in Leader Effectiveness Leadership Traits
      •                                            •                                                                   •                                                               •
      •     Research                               •     Landmark Stogdill (1948)                                      •      Stogdill (1974)                                          •     Intelligence
            Research                                     Landmark Stogdill (1948)                                             Stogdill (1974)                                                Intelligence
                                                                                                                                                                                       •
            focused                                  study - analyzed and                                                  -  Analyzed 163 new                                         •     Self-
            focused                                  study - analyzed and                                                  -  Analyzed 163 new                                               Self-
        on individual                                synthesized 124 trait studies                                     studies                                                              Confidence
        on individual                                synthesized 124 trait studies                                     studies                                                              Confidence
                                                                                                                                                                                       •
        characteristics                              -  Leadership                                                             with 1948 study findings                                •     
        characteristics                              -  Leadership                                                             with 1948 study findings                                      
        that universally                                reconceptualized                                                    -  Validated original study                                     Determination
        that universally                                reconceptualized                                                    -  Validated original study                                     Determination
                                                                                                                                                                                       •
        differentiated                                  as a relationship between                                           -  10 characteristics                                      •     Integrity
        differentiated                                  as a relationship between                                           -  10 characteristics                                            Integrity
                                                                                                                                                                                       •
        leaders                                          people in a social situation                                          positively identified with                              •     Sociability
        leaders                                          people in a social situation                                          positively identified with                                    Sociability
        from nonleaders                                                                                                        leadership
        from nonleaders                                                                                                        leadership
                                                   •
                                                   •     Mann (1959) reviewed 1,400 
                                                         Mann (1959) reviewed 1,400                                    •
                                                                                                                       •     Lord, DeVader, & Alliger
         IInnnnatate e QQuualaliittiieess            findings of personality and                                             Lord, DeVader, & Alliger
                                                     findings of personality and
                                                                                                                          (1986) meta-analysis
                                                     leadership in small groups                                           (1986) meta-analysis
                                                     leadership in small groups
                                                                                                                            -  Personality traits can be
                                                      - Less emphasis on situations                                         -  Personality traits can be
                                                      - Less emphasis on situations
                                                                                                                              used to differentiate
                                                      - Suggested personality traits                                          used to differentiate
                                                      - Suggested personality traits
                                                                                                                              leaders/nonleaders
                                                        could be used to discriminate                                         leaders/nonleaders
                                                        could be used to discriminate
                                                        leaders from nonleaders
                                                        leaders from nonleaders                                        •
                                                                                                                       •     Kirkpatrick & Locke (1991)
                                                                                                                             Kirkpatrick & Locke (1991)
                                                                                                                            - 6 traits make up the 
                                                                                                                            - 6 traits make up the 
                                                                                                                              “Right Stuff” for leaders
                                                                       SSiittuuatatiioonnss                                   “Right Stuff” for leaders
                                                                                                                            PPerersosonnalaliitty y //  BBehehaviavioorrss
                                                    Northouse - Leadership: Theory and Practice, Sixth Edition © 2012 SAGE Publications, Inc. 
  LEADERSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE  SIXTH EDITION                         5
    Major Leadership Traits
       Traits to possess or cultivate if one seeks to be 
       perceived by others as a leader: 
         Intelligence – Verbal, perceptual, and 
         reasoning capabilities. Ex. Steve Jobs
         Self-Confidence – Certainty about one’s 
         competencies and skills. Ex. Steve Jobs
         Determination – Desire to get the job done 
         (i.e., initiative, persistence, drive). Ex. Lance 
         Armstrong 
                 Northouse - Leadership: Theory and Practice, Sixth Edition © 2012 SAGE Publications, Inc. 
  LEADERSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE  SIXTH EDITION                     6
   Major Leadership Traits
       Traits to possess or cultivate if one seeks to be 
       perceived by others as a leader: 
          Integrity – The quality of honesty and 
          trustworthiness. Ex. Character Counts! program
          Sociability – Leader’s inclination to seek out 
          pleasant social relationships. Ex. Michael 
          Hughes, university president
                Northouse - Leadership: Theory and Practice, Sixth Edition © 2012 SAGE Publications, Inc.