Theories related to leadership. It will provide you an overview about different theories of leadership present in the world. You can choose and take a move forward in your life based in these theories. This is an important topic in Human resource management in management course.

1. Theories of leadership
1. Trait Theory
2. Behavioral Theory
3. Contingency theory
4. Situational theory

2. 1. Trait theory
• Focuses on individual characteristics of successful
leaders.
• Leaders possess a set of traits which make them
distinct from followers.

3. Advantages & Limitations
Advantages of Trait Theory -
• It is naturally pleasing theory.
• It serves as a yardstick against which the
• leadership traits of an individual can be assessed.
• It gives a detailed knowledge and understanding of the leader
element in the leadership process.
Limitations of The Trait Theory –
• There is bound to be some subjective judgment in determining
who is regarded as a “good” or “successful” leader.
• There is also a disagreement over which traits are the most
important for an effective leader

4. 2. Behavioural Theory
“great leaders are made, not born.”
• focuses on the actions of leaders not on mental
qualities or internal states.
• people can learn to become leaders through teaching
and observation.
• Anyone who adopts the appropriate behavior can be a
good leader.

5. Managerial grid: Blake & Mouton

6. 3. Contingency theory
Behavior of leader depends upon
characteristic of situation leader is in.
• Implies under what conditions will
employee oriented leadership will be
effective and under what type of
conditions production oriented
leadership be more effective.
Path – goal theory
Leader’s job is to use structure,
support and rewards to create a
work environment that helps
employees reach the organization's
goals.

7. Fiedler’s theory
• Leadership style, described in terms of task motivation
and relationship motivation.
• Situational favorableness, determined by three factors:
a) Leader-member relations - Degree to which a leader is
accepted and supported by the group members.
b) Task structure - Extent to which the task is structured
and defined, with clear goals and procedures.
c) Position power - The ability of a leader to control
subordinates through reward and punishment.

8. 4. Situational leadership theory
Paul Hershey and Kenneth
Blanchard :
• Maturity of followers as a
contingency variable.
• Situational leadership requires
leader’s emphasis on task
behaviors and relationship
behavior according to
maturity of followers in
performing their tasks.