INSTITUTE – University School of Business

DEPARTMENT – Management (M.B.A.)

Subject : Leadership & Organization Behavior
Subject Code : 20BAT613
Unit :I
Topic Name : Personality Theories of Leadership
Faculty Name : Dr. Bhanupriya Khatri

DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER

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 Course Objective

COB No. Title

COB1 To give an exposure to students of the individual behavior in organizations.

To enable students to combine relevant information and appraise options for the most
COB2 optimal solution so that they will be able to envisage and control human behaviour at
work and improve organizational effectiveness.

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 Leadership &
Organisation Behaviour
Course Outcome
CO Title Level
Number
CO1 To understand the concepts of organizational Remember
behavior and comprehend the behavior of  
people in the organization.
CO2 To learn about leadership theories and Understand
comprehend the process of transition of a  
manager to a leader.
CO3 To discuss the applicability of distinct Understand Will be covered in
organization behaviour and identify challenges this lecture
being faced by people in organization.
CO4 To judge people on the basis of their behaviour Understand
in terms of their effectiveness to the situations.

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Learning Objective
To understand the personality theories of leadership

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Content
• Personality theories :
• Great Man Theory
• Trait theory

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LEADERSHIP THEORIES
• PERSONALITY THEORIES
• BEHAVIOURAL THEORIES
• CONTINGENCY THEORIES

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I. Personality Theories
• Great Man Theory
• Trait Theory

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Greatman Theory
• It is first proposed by Thomas Carlyle in the mid-1800s.
• The great man theory of leadership became popular during the
19th-century.
• The mythology behind some of the world's most famous leaders
such as Abraham Lincoln, Julius Caesar, Mahatma Gandhi and
Alexander the Great helped contribute to the notion that great
leaders are born and not made.

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Criticism of Greatman Theory
• Many of the traits cited as being important to be an effective leader
are typical masculine traits. In contemporary research, there is a
significant shift in such a mentality.
• There is nothing inborn, divine or mysterious about leadership
qualities. Born leaders are imaginary characters. The so called born
leaders tend to be misfits in the modern complex fast changing
conditions.

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Trait Theory of Leadership
• 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.

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Core Leadership traits identified are:
• Emotional stability
• Willingness to accept responsibility
• Action-oriented thinking
• Competence in completing tasks
• Understanding the challenges that their subordinates are faced with
• Communication and charisma
• Ambition and need for success

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• Motivational skills
• Courage and resilience
• Perseverance
• Moral standing
• Confident decision-making
• Adaptability

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How to use the trait theory of leadership

• Get a better understanding of your traits

• Discover if you are right for a certain position.
• Identify those around you with leadership potential

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Advantages of Trait Theory

• This is a naturally pleasing theory.

• It is valid a lot of research has validated the foundation and basis of
the theory.
• It gives a detailed, knowledge and understanding of the leader
element in the leadership process.

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Limitations of Trait Theory

• There is bound, to be some subjective judgment in determining who

is regarded as a good or successful leader.
• The list of possible traits tends to be very long.
This theory is very complex.

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Criticisms of LMX Theory
1. LMX Theory fails to explain the particulars of how
high-quality exchanges are created.
2. LMX Theory is objected on grounds of fairness and
justice as some followers receive special attention of
leaders at workplace and other followers do not.

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 References
Books • Aswathappa, A. 2019. Organizational Behaviour – Text Cases and Games,
13th Edition, Himalayan Publishing House, India. ISBN: 9789352990887.
• George, J. and Jones, G.R. 2009. Understanding and Managing
Organization Behaviour. 5th Edition, Pearson Education, India,
ISBN:9788131724965.
• T1 Dalton, K. 2013. Leadership and Management Development:
Developing Tomorrow’s Managers, 1st Edition, Pearson Education, India,
ISBN: 9789332511194
E-Book • http://www.free-management-ebooks.com/news/leadership-skills/
Websites • https://www.corporatefiananceinstitute.com
• https://www.verywellmind.com
Video • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOtBp0D85LI
Links • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lEp4TVpxgA

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Summary of the Topic
• Leadership theories are schools of thought brought forward to
explain how and why certain individuals become leaders.
• The theories emphasize the traits and behaviors that
individuals can adopt to boost their own leadership abilities.

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 Blackboard
Assessment Pattern

Components HT-1 HT-2 Assignment Surprise Business GD Forum Attendance Scaled

Test Quiz Marks

Max. Marks 10 10 6 4 4 4 2 40

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THANK YOU

For queries
Email: bhanupriya.e9658@cumail.in

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