Leadership

Theories
and
EARLY THEORIES
PART 2
Practices
OF LEADERSHIP
2.1. Trait Approach
Abrarw Chane (PhD) 2.2. Skills Approach
abraraw.chane@aau.edu.et
2.3. Behavioral Approach
2.4. Situational Approach
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

November, 2023
Addis Ababa University
School of Commerce
 1
TRAITS APPROACH
TO LEADERSHIP
 Trait Theory …

Slide 3 Think of a leader

Brain-
whom you think is
storming
Questions
successful and list
the qualities that
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.
made him/her
successful
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 Trait Theory …

Slide 4
Also think of a
leader whom you
Brain- think is
storming
Questions
unsuccessful and
list the factors that
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም. made him/her
unsuccessful
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 Trait Theory …

Slide 5

Brain-
storming
Questions

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Trait Theory …
What does
A theory that considers personal
Trait qualities & characteristics that
Theory of differentiate leaders from non-
Leadership leaders
State?

What makes leaders different

Slide 6 from non-leaders is their
personal qualities &
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.
characteristics

A good leader is born, not made

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 Trait Theory …

What does Trait Approach

Trait o the first systematic attempt to
Theory of study leadership
Leadership o was called “Great-man Theory”
State?
o focuses on identifying the innate
qualities & chara possessed by
great social, political, & military
Slide 7 leaders
o It was believed that people were
born with these traits
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም. o However, no consistent set of
traits differentiate leaders from
non-leaders.
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 Trait Theory …

What traits Traits central to the

distinguish Approach
leaders •

from non- 1. Intelligence – verbal, perceptual, &

leaders? reasoning abilities
2. Self-confidence – sense of self-
esteem & self-assurance
Slide 8 3. Determination – initiative,
persistence, drive
4. Integrity – honesty & trust-
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም. worthiness
5. Sociability – pleasant social
relationship
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 Trait Theory …

What traits
Five-Factor Personality Model
distinguish and Leadership
•
leaders 1. Neuroticism
from non-
o anxiety, hostility & depression
leaders?
2. Extraversion
o outgoing, talkative, sociable, & assertive
o Strongly associated with leadership
Slide 9 3. Openness to experience
o imaginative, creative, & curious
4. Agreeableness
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም. o courteous, good-natured, empathic, & caring
o Weakly associated with leadership
5. Conscientiousness
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o careful, dependable & self-disciplined
 Trait Theory …

How Does the Trait Approach

Work?
o focuses exclusively on the leader, not
on the followers or the situation
o

o concerned with what traits leaders

exhibit and who has these traits
Slide 10
o

o effective leaders are those who have

certain set of traits
o the leader and the leader’s traits are
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.
central to the leadership process
o selecting the right leader will increase
org’al effectiveness
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 Trait Theory …

How Does the Trait Approach

Work?
Orgs can specify the traits that are
important to them for particular positions
and then use trait assessment measures
to determine whether an individual fits
Slide 11 their needs

also used for personal awareness and

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም. development. By analyzing their own
traits, leaders can gain an idea of their
strengths and weaknesses

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 Trait Theory …

? What are the strengths and the

weaknesses of the trait
approach to leadership?

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 2
SKILLS APPROACH
TO LEADERSHIP
 Skills Approach …
o Leader-centered perspective on
leadership
What does
the skills o Emphasizes on skills that can be
approach to learnt & developed
leadership
o Kn. & abilities are needed for effective
state?
leadership
o Leadership is a set of developable
skills
o Skills are what leaders can
accomplish
o Effectiveness depends on the ability
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.
to solve complex org’al problems

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 Skills Approach …

What
skills Effective leadership depends on
make
leaders 1. Technical – the ability to work
effective? with things
o proficiency in a specific type of
work
o the ability to use appropriate tools

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Skills Approach …

What 2. Human – the ability to work

skills with people
make
leaders
effective? o being aware of one’s own
perspective
o to work with followers,
peers, & supervisors

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Skills Approach …

What 3. Conceptual – the ability to

skills work with ideas & concepts
make
leaders
effective? o Central to creating a vision
o The mental work of shaping
the meaning of issues

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Skills Approach …
4. Personal skill
What • self motivated
skills
make • Self impressed
leaders • Self directed
effective?
• Self disciplined
• Self managed

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Skills Approach …
5. Communication skill
What • Effective delivery & receipt
skills of information
make
• Active listener
leaders
effective? • Good oral, writing, &
presentation skill

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Skills Approach …
6. Thinking skill
What • Recognizes the desired
skills condition
make
• Able to identify & understand
leaders
effective? problems
• Learns from his experience

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Skills Approach …
7. Delegating skill
What • Delegating power to others
skills
• Involving other people
make
leaders • Empowering others
effective? • Provide clear information
• Offer assistance and
feedback

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Skills Approach …

What 5. Decision-making skill

skills
• think and act fast
make
leaders • have the courage to make
effective? decisions

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 3
BEHAVIORAL APPROACH
TO LEADERSHIP

14-፲፬
 Behavioral Approach

What does
Behaviors
behavioral o what leaders do and how they act
approach to
leadership Leaders have two kinds of behaviors
state?
1. Task behavior
o facilitate goal accomplishment
o help members achieve their
objectives
2. Relationship behavior
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም. o Help followers feel comfortable
o with themselves
o with each other
o with the situation
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 Behavioral Approach …

The central purpose is to

explain how leaders combine
these two kinds of behaviors
to influence followers in their
efforts to reach a goal
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Behavioral Approach …

Major
STUDY 1
studies on
behavioral
leadership The Ohio State University
Studies
o Initiating structure – task behavior
o Consideration – relationship
behavior
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.
 being high in both is best

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 Behavioral Approach …

Major STUDY 2
studies on
behavioral
leadership The University of Michigan Studies
o Employee orientation – strong
human relation
o Production orientation – technical
aspect of a job

 being to be oriented toward

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

both is best
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 Behavioral Approach …

STUDY 3
Major
studies on
behavioral
leadership Blake & Mouton’s Leadership Grid
o Concern for production
o Concern for people

 being high in both is best

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 Behavioral Approach …

Major
studies on
behavioral
leadership

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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 4
SITUATIONAL APPROACH
TO LEADERSHIP

21-፳፩
 Situational Approach
o Developed
What does o by Hersey & Blanchard in 1969
Situational
approach to o Focuses on
leadership o leadership in situations
state?
o Assumes that
o different situations demand
different kinds of leadership
o To be effective the leader
o adapts his/her style to
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም. different situations

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 Situational …
o Stresses that
o Leadership is composed of a
directive & supportive dimension
o To determine what is needed
o a leader must evaluate his/her
followers
o Assumes that
o followers’ skills and motivation
vary overtime
o Leaders match their style to
፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም. o followers’ competence &
commitment

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 Situational …

፳፻፲፮ ዓ.ም.

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