1. Assignment on
Leadership theory and traits
Submitted to
Sir zafar –uz-zuman
Submitted by s
Ayesha yaseen
Roll#007
MBO-2nd semester
Subject
Art of leadership and motivation
COMSATS institute of information technology Lahore

2. Leadership theories and studies
Leadership is that process which covers three points. One is socially influence, second leaders
are nothing without leadership qualities and third one is leaders focus is on achieving
organizational goals.
Trait approach
Leaders have specific characteristics. Leaders are born not made. They have specific qualities by
birth. There are three different ways 1) physical 2) mental 3) social trait through which
effectiveness of people can be examined. Ralph study and first conclusion tells us that there is
no specific trait which differ leader from common people. Trait theory has several problems.
Because there are different point of view on same conduct were found. And there was no
concept of situational variables which measures leader’s effectiveness.
Leadership behavior approach
This theory states that behavior is important than traits. There are two behavior theories, Ohio
state university and university of Michigan. Ohio state study (1940-1950) states that there are
two aspects one is consolidating and other is initiating. Consolidating focus on human needs
and initiating structure focus on work, process, and regulations. While university of Michigan
study shows that there are two centered employee centered and job centered. Employee
centered focus on employee satisfaction and job centered focus on cost cutting, task and
efficiency. Managerial grid is also used to measure effectiveness of leaders focus on people
consideration and task consideration. There are five different dimensions. High people
consideration and low task consideration comes in country club. High people consideration and
high task consideration comes in team management. Low task consideration and low people
consideration comes at impoverished management. High consideration and low task
consideration comes at authority compliance.

3. Contingency approach
Contingency theory suggests that organizational work place and situational factors are
important. In 1967’s fielder theory suggest that organizational performance depend upon
effectiveness of followers work. Ad extent to which leaders performance and controlled and
effected by situations. It focuses on leader member relation a task structure. Path goal (1971
Robert house) suggests that leadership behavior depend upon follower’s qualities and work
environment characteristics. Leaders should motivate followers toward achieving
organizational goals. This theory was criticized because it does not consider contingency
factors. Leader’s participation model related to followers participation and also focus on
leader’s behavior. Situational leadership theory focuses on subordinate’s ability to complete
specific task. Focuses on task orients and relationship oriented. Behavior effectiveness of these
two behaviors depends upon follower’s maturity.
Recent development
Leader member exchange
This theory tells about the relationship between followers and its leaders. If relationship is
stronger effective outcomes could be achieved. Leaders divide their subordinates into two
groups in in-group and out-group. In in-group have close relationship with leaders and fully
participated in decision making followers in out0group not involve in these activities.
Transformational leadership theory
This theory tells us that leaders can convert badly into good. There is difference between
transactional leadership and transformational leadership. Transactional leadership focus on
rewards. But transformational leadership focus on co ordination work activates.
Substitutes for leadership theory
Theory tells us detail about the lack of stronger empirical support between follower’s
satisfaction and their performance and leader’s behavior and trait. Leaders behavior may be
task oriented and relationship oriented.