Leadership styles
Balancing Concern for People with Concern for Results
Another behavioral approach focused less on specific roles and more on leadership styles. In the mid-twentieth century, the University of Michigan, under the supervision of Rensis Likert, identified what they viewed as two opposing styles of leadership leaders who focus on:
At about the same time as the University of Michigan studies, the Ohio State Univeristy, under the supervision of Ralph Stogdill, identified four leadership styles, by considering the same two aspects of leadership, without assuming a leader had to be just one or the other:
The leadership grid, formerly known as the managerial grid model, is a more recent model of leadership identifies five styles based on a combination of either high, medium or low consideration for people and results.
Grid theory asserts that the most effective leaders adopt a 9-9 style of leadership, showing both a high concern for people and a high concern for results. Research supports the Grid theory's assertion that 9-9 leadership is always effective, however this impact is not always high and there are some specific instances were other leadership styles are more effective.
Balancing the task and relationship aspects of leadership remains a central tenet of contemporary approaches to leadership and the differentiating of management and leadership. As the late Rear Admiral Grace Hopper said, "You manage things, you lead people."
Scandinavian Studies
Scandinavian studies have added a third dimension to the people-task mixá development. They show how in addition to being focused on achieving results and having good working relationships with staff, effective leaders seek to develop and draw the fullest potential out of every staff member.
Situational Leadership
Situational leadership theories highlight the importance of context in deciding the right leadership approach in any given situation.
Different approaches or theories of leadership
Broadly, there are five main theories of leadership: (1) Traitists theory, (2) Situationalists theory, (3) Behavioural theory, (4) Followers theory, (5) System theory or Path-Goal theory. We shall now explain each one of them in brief :
Traitists Approach or Theory
This is a classical theory. According to this theory, leadership behaviour is produced by certain traits (qualities) inherent in a person or say, leadership behaviour is sum total of the traits. A leader behaves as his traits warrant. Studies focussed the traits of past and present leaders in terms of their family background, education, career, events, character, etc. and made a list of traits or attributes which a leader should possesses. The other way to identify the traits is to enquire from the leader himself how he considers himself different from others.
A number of traits have been identified by various researches to distinguish successful leaders from unsuccessful one or followers. A successful leaders is supposed to have the following traits:
(i) Good personality, (ii) Tirelessness (iii) Ability to quick decision, (iv) Courage, (v) Persuation, (vi) Intelligence, (vii) Reliability, (viii) Imagination, (ix) Physically ft, (x) Intellectually sounds etc. The psychologists have grouped the various traits of a leader into four categories: (a) Physical, (b) Psychological, (c) Intellectual and (d) Qualities of character.
Earlier trait theories maintained that leadership qualities are inherited but later theorists conceded that many of these traits could be acquired and developed by experience and training. So, traits are not only in born but acquired also. It has now been well established that leader is not only born but also made.