Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 37

Leadership - Essay Example This paper compares and contrasts the trait and situation approaches of leadership in terms of applicability and leadership competence. Certain types of qualities make leaders more successful while others deteriorate the effectiveness of their leadership. With the trait approach, leadership concerns itself with the leader’s ability to lead others at utmost efficiency. Examples of traits that include a leader’s decisions are intellect, self-assurance, integrity, and strength of mind. As a result, leadership applicants frequently take personality evaluation exams to identify their best qualities. The primary premise of the situational approach is the influence of leadership processes and skills by situations. Developed by Hersey and Blanchard in 1969, the situational approach is a product of the three-dimensional management style hypothesis. The following paper argues that the trait approach of leadership is more applicable than the situational one because the leader’s qualities matter more than the situation or followers in terms of leadership successfulness. The trait approach is most applicable and helpful because it backs the overall image of leaders being a special type of individuals in society (Daft, 2014). This image popularizes the notion that leaders do extraordinary things, which is important. Society has to view leaders as talented individuals, and the trait approach facilitates this view. Another reason is that the trait approach has extensive scientific literature to support its credibility (Daft, 2014). I find research findings more reliable sources of support than mere uncited information. The trait approach also concerns with just the leader and comprehensively analyzes his or her qualities in the leadership procedure. A fourth reason is the criteria set by the trait approach that new leaders can easily adopt. Fifthly, I find the trait approach a naturally agreeable