TRAIT THEORY IN

LEADERSHIP
Charisma
CREATIVITY
INITIATIVE
 Traditionally, the most ardent versions of
trait theory “these leadership
characteristics” as innate, and as such,
some people are seen to be born leaders,
due to their psychological makeup.
“Sic parvis magna”

Greatness from small beginnings

- sir francis drake
The term “great man” was used because, at
that time leadership was thought of primarily
as a male quality, especially in terms of military
leadership
With great power comes with great
responsibility
 Historian Thomas Carlyle
■ Had a major influence on this theory of leadership, at one point stating that “the history of
the world is but the biography of great men”.
■ According to Carlyle, history is shaped by extraordinary leaders. This a ability to lead is
something that people are simply born with, Carlyle believed, and not something that could
be developed. Carlyle’s ideas inspired early research on leadership, which almost entirely
focused on inheritable traits.
Some of the implications of the trait theory of leadership are that:
1. Certain traits produce certain patterns of behavior
2. These patterns are consistent across different situations
3. People are born with these leadership traits