Similarities Between Leadership And Trait Approach

Of the many leadership theories and approaches that exist in the Nourthouse text, two approaches that will be analyzed by their strengths and weaknesses and then compared are the trait approach and skills approach. The trait approach entails many strengths and weakness as it focuses on innate characteristics that influence one’s leadership abilities. The second approach discussed in the Northouse text is the skills approach. Unlike the trait approach, which focuses on one’s inborn traits, the skills approach analyzes the importance of leadership knowledge and abilities that can be gained by anyone. This approach also has strengths and criticisms that will be discussed. However, before analyzing the skills approach, and explanation on the trait …show more content…
The skills approach is a leader-centered perspective that is influenced by two models. The first model was developed by Katz (1955) and explained that effective leadership depends on “technical, human, and conceptual” skills (Northouse, 2013, p.44). Katz (1995) illustrated that depending on one’s management level, various amounts of each skill are beneficial (Northouse, 2013, p.45). Moreover, the second model of skills approach that was conducted by Mumford and colleagues (2000) correlated a leader’s knowledge and capabilities to effective leadership performances (Northouse, 2013, p.47). Of the five attainable components, “problem solving, social judgment, and knowledge” were said to be the central competencies of the skills model (Northouse, 2013, p.48). Additionally, “individual attributes” and “leadership outcomes” have been defined by Mumford and colleagues as other components of the skill-based model (Northouse, 2013, p.48). The skills approach emphasizes a few benefits of the method’s description of …show more content…
It is essential to first take a look at the definition of leadership that Northouse (2013) has identified as practices is which one impacts and influences groups of people in order to accomplish a “common goal” (Sharp, 2015). In module one, Leadership Primer, Sharp explains that in order to be an effective leader, one has to be able to “reach out and engage other people as followers” (2015). This becomes a common goal amongst leaders; however, various approaches and theories base an individual’s leadership ability on different processes. The trait approach explains leadership as assigned and inborn characteristics and argues that all leaders share the same traits such as intelligence and extraversion (Northouse, 2013). On the other hand, the skills approach explains leadership in terms of emergent skills that anyone can develop in order to become an effective leader (Northouse, 2013). With that being said, module two, Leadership History states that researches have not yet reached an agreement regarding if “leaders are largely born or made” (Sharp, 2015). As researchers continue to debate over leadership characteristics, a look at leadership instruments may determine what characteristics are needed to become an effective