Leadership Eight Major Theory and Critique
1. "Great Man" Theories:
Great man theories assume that the capacity for leadership is inherent – that great leaders are born, not made. These theories often portray great leaders as heroic, mythic and destined to rise to leadership when needed. The term "Great Man" was used because, at the time, leadership was thought of primarily as a male quality, especially in terms of military leadership.
Critique :
Sociologist Herbert Spencer suggested that the leaders were products of the society in which they lived. In The Study of Sociology, Spencer wrote, "you must admit that the genesis of a great man depends on the long series of complex influences which has produced the race in which he appears, and the social state into which that race has slowly grown....Before he can remake his society, his society must make him."
2. Trait Theories:
Similar in some ways to "Great Man" theories, trait theories assume that people inherit certain qualities and traits that make them better suited to leadership. Trait theories often identify particular personality or behavioral characteristics shared by leaders. If particular traits are key features of leadership, then how do we explain people who possess those qualities but are not leaders? This question is one of the difficulties in using trait theories to explain leadership.
Critique :
The trait theory is criticized for its generality because the theory doesn't believe traits change over time. The theory believes traits do not change from situation so people are the same at all times. The trait theory is hard to judge using personality tests because behaviors change in situations. The trait theory also generalizes by putting people into groups based on their results in personality inventories. These tests are often to general for a full understanding of the person and their traits. The trait theory uses group results to judge individuals, which can cause people to appear different than they are because they are being
Great man theories assume that the capacity for leadership is inherent – that great leaders are born, not made. These theories often portray great leaders as heroic, mythic and destined to rise to leadership when needed. The term "Great Man" was used because, at the time, leadership was thought of primarily as a male quality, especially in terms of military leadership.
Critique :
Sociologist Herbert Spencer suggested that the leaders were products of the society in which they lived. In The Study of Sociology, Spencer wrote, "you must admit that the genesis of a great man depends on the long series of complex influences which has produced the race in which he appears, and the social state into which that race has slowly grown....Before he can remake his society, his society must make him."
2. Trait Theories:
Similar in some ways to "Great Man" theories, trait theories assume that people inherit certain qualities and traits that make them better suited to leadership. Trait theories often identify particular personality or behavioral characteristics shared by leaders. If particular traits are key features of leadership, then how do we explain people who possess those qualities but are not leaders? This question is one of the difficulties in using trait theories to explain leadership.
Critique :
The trait theory is criticized for its generality because the theory doesn't believe traits change over time. The theory believes traits do not change from situation so people are the same at all times. The trait theory is hard to judge using personality tests because behaviors change in situations. The trait theory also generalizes by putting people into groups based on their results in personality inventories. These tests are often to general for a full understanding of the person and their traits. The trait theory uses group results to judge individuals, which can cause people to appear different than they are because they are being