Trait Approach

What is Trait Approach?

·         The trait approach to personality is one of the major theoretical areas in the study of personality. The trait theory suggests that individual personalities are composed of these broad dispositions.(verywellmind)  

·         The Trait Theory asserts that an individual is composed of a set of definite predisposition attributes called as traits. These traits are distinguishable and often long lasting quality or a characteristic of a person that makes him different from the others.(Business Jargons)

Two main Leadership Traits That Encourage Your Team to Succeed

Awareness 

There is a difference between management and employees, bosses and workers. Leaders understand the nature of this difference and accept it; it informs their image, their actions, and their communication. They conduct themselves in a way that sets them apart from their employees--not in a manner that suggests they are better than others, but in a way that permits them to retain an objective perspective on everything that's going on in their organization.(Peter Economy)

Accountability

Extraordinary leaders take responsibility for everyone's performance, including their own. They follow up on all outstanding issues, check in on employees, and monitor the effectiveness of company policies and procedures. When things are going well, they praise. When problems arise, they identify them quickly, seek solutions, and get things back on track.(Peter Economy)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Types of Trait Approaches to Leadership

The earliest writers brought forward a long list of traits of leadership such as physical and nervous energy, a sense of purpose and direction, enthusiasm, friendliness and affection, integrity, mastery of knowledge, decisiveness, intelligence, teaching skill and faith (Tead, 1953); physique, skills, perception, knowledge, memory, imagination, determination, persistence, endurance and courage (Barnard, 1938).

Subsequently, some researchers found a significant theoretical problem in that the trait approach could neither specify nor prove how presumed leadership traits were linked to leadership per se (Kiechel, 1986).

Jennings (1961) asserted that fifty years of study had failed to produce one personality trait or set of qualities that can be used to distinguish leaders from non-leaders. The trait approach has been criticized in five respects:

                                                                                                                                                                   

REFERENCES

·         Verywellmind(online). www.verywellmind.com/trait-theory-of-personality-2795955

·         Peter Economy. https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/the-9-traits-that-define-great-leadership.html

·         Deepti  Verma(Article) http://www.shareyouressays.com/knowledge/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-various-types-of-trait-approaches-to-leadership-explained/102114