Organizational behaviour

1. Trait Theory of Leadership
Saroj Kiju

2. Definition
• This theory, also called Greatman Theory, gave way to a more
realistic trait approach which views that traits are completely
inborn. Theory suggests that there are certain identifiable qualities
that good leaders must possess.
• The trait model of leadership is based on the characteristics of
many leaders - both successful and unsuccessful - and is used to
predict leadership effectiveness. The resulting lists of traits are
then compared to those of potential leaders to assess their
likelihood of success or failure.
• Some researcher focus on intelligence, initiative, individuality and
other on scholarship, dependability, responsibility, social
participation etc.

3. Seven Leadership traits
• Achievement Drive
• Leadership Motivation
• Integrity and Honesty
• Knowledge
• Self-confidence
• Intelligence
• Cognitive ability

4. Achievement Drive
• It refers inner motivation to pursue goal.
• Leaders exhibits a higher effort level.
• They have a relatively high desire for achievement, they are
ambitious, they have a lot of energy, and they are tirelessly
persistent in their activities and they show initiative.

5. Leadership Motivation
• Leaders have a strong desire to influence and lead others.
• They demonstrate the willingness to take responsibility.
• They have knowledge about the needs and requirements of
subordinates and how to apply appropriate motivational tools at
the right time.

6. Honesty and Integrity
Successful leaders are:
• Trustworthy
• Reliable
• Open
• Integrates organizational and individual behavior

7. Self-confidence
• It is believing in own-self and their ideas and ability.
• Leaders built a trusting relationship between themselves and
followers by being truthful or no deceitful and by showing high
consistency between word and deed.

8. Knowledge
• Effective leaders have a high degree of knowledge about
company, industry and technical matters.
• In-depth knowledge allows leaders to make well-informed
decisions and to understand the implications of those decisions.

9. Cognitive Ability
• Intelligence has been defined in many ways, including: the
capacity for logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning,
emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical
thinking, and problem solving
• Leaders need to be intelligent enough to gather, synthesize and
interpret large amounts of information and to be able to create
visions solve problems and make correct decisions.

10. Emotional Intelligence
• Emotional intelligence or EI is the ability to understand and
manage your own emotions, and those of the people around you.
• For leaders, having emotional intelligence is essential for success.
After all, who is more likely to succeed – a leader who shouts at
his team when he's under stress, or a leader who stays in control,
and calmly assesses the situation?
• It includes major keys like Self-awareness, Self-regulation,
Motivation, Empathy, Social skills.

11. Strengths/Advantages
• It is naturally pleasing theory.
• It is valid as lot of research has validated the foundation and basis of
the 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.
• It is useful in developing training programs for managers at various
levels.

12. Limitations
• The traits of successful leaders are not consistent. There are no
common traits to study leadership in organization.
• Leaders cannot be totally different from their followers. It is difficult
to define and measure traits of a good leader.
• This theory does not find the real causes and effects of certain
behaviors in organizational setting
• Effective leadership is composed of leader, follower and situational
variables, not a function of trait alone. There are no universal traits
applicable to all situations.

13. Thank you!!