Page 4 - Trait theory of Leadership

TRAIT THEORY OF

LEADERSHIP

• Theory

Much of the work on this theory was done in the 19th century and is often
linked to the work of the historian Ahmed Carlyle who commented on the

great men or heroes of the history saying that “the history of the world is
but the biography of great men”. According to him, a leader is the one gifted
with unique qualities that capture the imagination of the masses.

Earlier leadership was considered as a quality associated mostly with the

males, and therefore the theory was named as the great man theory. But
later with the emergence of many great women leaders as well, the theory
was recognized as the great person theory.

The great man theory of leadership states that some people are born with
the necessary attributes that set them apart from others and that these

traits are responsible for their assuming positions of power and authority. A
leader is a hero who accomplishes goals against all odds for his followers.
The theory implies that those in power deserve to be there because of their

special endowment. Furthermore, the theory contends that these traits
remain stable over time and across different groups. Thus, it suggests that
all great leaders share these characteristic regardless of when and where
they lived or the precise role in the history they fulfilled.

Trait theory of Leadership –
2/1/2019 CarePoint Global leadership 4
Program