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Leadership Theory And Leadership Theories Essay

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The basis upon which effective leaders are empowered does not always equate with placing the right person in the position; in fact, the extent to which leadership theories merely provide an outline of what is expected of a good leader is both grand and far-reaching. Just as a simple job description only scratches the surface of finding the right employee, the overall impact of a leader cannot be solely hinged upon the oft-inadequate specifics of leadership theories. Anyone can follow the guidelines of a given leadership theory and carry out the compulsory specifications, however, there are myriad more innate qualifications to effective leadership than what can either be taught from or redeemed by a simple list of qualifications.

II. THEORIES AND LEADERS Determining what it takes to become a good leader – receptively influential, compassionate, communicative, dynamic – has long been up for debate between/among those who support various theories. Two of the most examined theories, which call upon the inherent – and perhaps even genetic - aspects of leadership qualification – are the Great Man and Trait theories. The former relies upon a patriarchal disposition, while the latter draws from a viewpoint of such characteristics being inborn. Both theories conclude that leadership ability is born not made; however, the Great Man theory presumes this is acquired from family pedigree, while the Trait theory assigns a number of commonly shared characteristics that indicate a

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