Starting from the early 1900s, researchers have used numerous theoretical approaches to explain leadership which includes trait, behavioral and situational approaches. Concept derived from these lines of leadership can be found in present day theories of transformational leadership, which encompass leader traits, behavior and situational variables.
Trait-based theories represented the earliest attempts to quantitatively study leaders and leadership effectiveness by focusing on the innate skills and traits of the person. Situational theories expanded to explore the influence of different situations on leadership. Transformational leadership theories further expanded on the role of the leader in motivating followers through inspiration. The models strength and weakness …show more content…
Summary of key differences and similarities
Similarities exist between task-oriented leadership and transactional leadership. Both focus on the exchange between leaders and followers and both emphasize work products or outcomes.
Relation-oriented leadership compares to transformational, authentic leadership, and servant leadership (Bass, 2008). Relation-oriented leadership is people focused, inspirational, persuasive, and intellectually stimulating (Bass, 2008). Both situational leadership theory and transactional leadership focus on leadership behaviors to the exclusion of leadership traits or individual differences, while transformational looks at leadership behaviors and individual differences.
Transactional and transformational theories involve universal approaches to leadership.
Transformational applies to a wide range of situations and contexts and evidence suggests transformational fits a variety of diverse cultural contexts (Grint, 2011). In contrast, situational leadership theories and contingent leadership approaches advocate for the right leadership style and behaviors for the context and situation faced by the organization (Grint, 2011).
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