My sincere Thanks to my dear students Nausin and Sindhuja

1. LEADERSHIP TRAITS IN THIRUKKURAL
P.Nisha.,MBA.,(Ph.D).,
Part Time Research Scholar,
Annamalai University.
Assitant Professor,
Department of Business Administration,
Vivekananda College of Arts and Science for Women,Sirkali.
R. Sindhuja, M. Nausin Begam, Research Students, Second year BBA,
Vivekananda college of arts & science for women, Sirkazhi.

2. INTRODUCTION:
The book is considered to precede Manimekalai and
Silappathikaram since they both acknowledge the Kural text.
G.U.Pope got inspired by Thirukkural and translated it in
English. Sections of Thirukkural includes 1330 Couplets, 133
chapters each containing 10 couplets, 3 major section 1. Virtue
(Aram) or Righteousness, 2. Wealth (porul), 3. Joy (inbam). This
work remains the most translated, most citadel and the most
citable of Tamil literary Pathinenkezhkanakkunool,Series of
late Sangam works.

3. OBJECTIVES:
This paper gives direction to:
 To study the Leadership traits said in Thirukkural
 To research the kural’s moral values
 To study the suggestions of Thirukkural for becoming a good
leader.

4. METHODOLOGY:
Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were
collected from Thirukkural book. The secondary data collected from
the various unpublished records, books, journals and websites.

5. LEADERSHIP MEANING:
Leadership is a mindset. It is not about age,
experience or skill set. It is an attitude a willingness
to sacrifice you for others.

6. LEADERSHIP DEFINITION:
Leadership is defined as the relationship in which the
leader influence others a work together willingly on a
related task to attain goals devised by the leader and
group. Thus, the leadership is a key element in human
resource in any organisation. Leadership is a part of
management, but not all.

7. CHARACTARISTICS OF LEADERSHIP:
 It is an inter-personal process in which a manager influence and guides workers to
achieve goals.
 It refers to certain qualities that a person should possess, including intelligence,
maturity, and personality.
 This is a team process. It involves two or more people interacting with each other.
 A leader is involved in shaping and shaping the behaviour of the team to achieve
organizational goals.
 Leadership is bound to the situation, not the best leadership style. It all depends
on the circumstances.

8. THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP:
There are severalapproaches to the study of leadershipbut important among them are
classified(a) Trait theories: This theory assumes that leadersare born, not made. this study
focuses on personaltraits or characteristics that distinguishthe leaders form the follower. (b)
Behaviouraltheories: These theories opine that a leader’s style is oriented either an employee-
centred or a job-oriented emphasis. (c) Situationaltheories: It is an extension of the managerial
grid approach,Hersey and Blanchard’s approach identifies two major styles,viz.,task style and
relationshipstyle. 1) Telling style: This is a high task, low relationshipstyle. It is effective when
followers are at a very low level of maturity. 2) Selling style: This is a high task, high relationship
style. It is effective when followers are on the low side of maturity. 3) Participating style: This is a
low task, high relationship style. It is effective when followers are on the high side of maturity. 4)
Delegatingstyle: This is a low task. Low relationshipstyle. It is effective when followers are at a
very high level of maturity.

9. LEADERSHIP STYLES:
Leadership is practised by its styles which may be positive or negative. The way in which
a leader uses power also establishes leadership styles. Free-rein or Laissez- faire
style: These leaders avoid authority and responsibility. They mostly depend upon the
group to establish objectives and goals, formulate policies and programmes. Autocratic
style: Autocratic leaders centralise power of decision- making in them. Its followers
have no say either in decision-making or implementation. Democratic style: Democratic
leaders decentralise authority and encourage subordinates to express their opinion in
decision -making as well as in implementing the decision. Participative style:
Participative leaders decentralise authority and encourage subordinates to participate
and involve in decisions- making and implementing processes.

10. THIRUKKURAL:
Some of the thirukkurals which depicts leadership traits of a person are mentioned
below as:
 Chapter 4.the power of virtue
Verses 33, to finish virtue’s work with ceaseless effort strive,
What way thou May’s, where’re thou see’s the work may thrive
ஒல்லும் வகையான
் அறவிகன ஓவாதே
செல்லும்வாய் எல்லாஞ் செயல்
Meaning: Preach and Practise virtue as much as possible wherever and whenever.

11. •Chapter 39.kingly excellence
Verses 382, Courage, a liberal hand, wisdom, and energy:these four
Are qualities a king adorns for evermore?
ஈகைஅறிவூை்ைம் இந்நான்கும்
எஞ்சாகமஅஞ்சாகமவேந்தர்ை்கியல்பு.
Meaning: Courage,being liberal,wisdom and energy these are the basic qualities for a king.

12.  Chapter 39. Kingly excellence
Verses 388, who guards the realm and justice strict maintains,
That king as god o’er subject people regions
முகறசெய்து ைாப்பாற்றும் மன
்னவன
் மை்ைட்கு
இகறசயன
்று கவை்ைப் படும்.
Meaning: when a king perform his work perfectly people will praise him a
man of god

13.  Chapter 39. Kingly excellence
Verses 389, the king of worth, who can words bitter to his ear endure,
Beneath the shadow of his power the world abides secure.
செவிகைப்பெ் சொற்சபாறுை்கும் பண
் புகட தவந்ேன
்
ைவிகைை் கீழ்ே்ேங்கும் உலகு.
Meaning: A king who tolerates the harsh words and criticism will rule the
whole world

14.  Chapter 43. The possession of knowledge
Verses 421, True wisdom wards off woes, a circling fortress high;
It’s inner strength man’s eager foes unshaken will defy.
அறிவற்றங் ைாை்குங் ைருவி செறுவார்ை்கும்
உள்ளழிை்ை லாைா அரண
் .
Meaning: Knowledge is the powerful weapon for self protectionand it is a
fortress which can’t be destroyed by enemy.

15.  Chapter 47. Acting for consideration
Verses 468, On no right system if man toil and strive,
Though many men assist,no work can thrive
ஆற்றின
் வருந்ோ வருே்ேம் பலர்நின
்று
தபாற்றினும் சபாே்துப் படும்.
Meaning: The failure of a plan less work cannot be saved even though many
people support us to do

16.  Chapter 52. Selection and employment
Verses 517, ‘This man, this work shall thus work out, ‘let thoughtful king
command;
Then leave the matter wholly in his servant’s hand.
இேகன இேனால் இவன
் முடிை்கும் என
் றாய்ந்து
அேகன அவன
்ைண
் விடல்.
Meaning: After considering a person whether he is skilful to do it
successful, we may give the wor

17.  Chapter 55. The right sceptre
Verses 541, Search out, to no one favour show; with heart that justice loves
Consult, then act; this is the rule that right approves.
ஓர்ந்து ைண
் தணாடாது இகறபுரிந்து யார்மாட்டும்
தேர்ந்து செய்வஃதே முகற.
Meaning: It is the great kingdom of administrationif there is equality,
severe punishment to the criminal and discussingwith seniors to give
punishment..

18.  Chapter 53. Kindness to relatives
Verses 529, who once were his, and then forsook him, as before
Will come around,when cause of disagreementis no more.
ேமராகிை் ேற்றுறந்ோர் சுற்றம் அமராகமை்
ைாரணம் இன் றி வரும்.
Meaning: When the reason for a relative’s disagreement is gone, the relative
will come to relationship.

19.  Chapter 77. The excellence of an army
Verse 770, Though men abound, all ready for the war,
No army is where no fit leaders are.
நிகலமை்ைள் ொல உகடே்சேனினும் ோகன
ேகலமை்ைள் இல்வழி இல்.
Meaning: Even though the army has a number of strong soldiers if there is no
general the army will be defeated.

20. CONCLUSION:
Thirukkural is considered as a holy book which a man written for another
man’s well-being. Thirukkural has everythinga man needs to become
successful in his life. Thus it is clearly shown that Thirukkural provide many
valuablethoughts and providesso many necessary knowledge which has
been requiredfor both the personaland work life of an individual through
out life time. So each and every one should follow the traditional , the book
of wisdom THIRUKKURAL. Thirukkural is a vast chapter depicting 1330
different ideas in 1330 different kurals. Researchbrought down to suggest
that everyonemust read thirukkural for developingand finding ways to
improve their leadership traits.

21. THANK YOU