The Evolution of Leadership Theory

The Evolution of Leadership Theory

Leadership in the last five to ten years has changed dramatically, it has been moved and forever changed by technology and a growing global economy. In these times if your leadership skills are lacking it will be discovered much earlier than before. During the agriculture era, leadership skills was learned from families (i.e. parents, grandparents and elders). These skills worked well for family farms and was held together by family hierarchy. About one hundred years ago during the industrial era, command and control, micro-managing was the leadership style. This style was decent for the time considering the predominate type of work performed. Today, it is the information technology era and we still find many organizations micro-managing with command and control appearing to be a prevalent leadership style.

The required text book the Leadership Experience, Richard L. Daft 5e, states that there are six evolving theories of leadership and four leadership eras’.

Great Man theories, were very early on when a leader put everything together then swayed others to follow along. This was done based on inherited traits, abilities and qualities. It was believed that great leaders are born with these natural leadership traits.

Behavior theories were when researchers started considering more at what a leader does rather than who they are or were born to be. They further focused on what a leader does on the job. They examined the manner in which he behaved with his followers.

In the 1920’s, Trait theory researchers investigated particular traits and characteristics. They felt that all leaders held the same super traits and characteristics. They studied intelligence and energy. They felt that if they could recognize these traits they would be able to identify good leaders.

Contingency theories are also situational theories. The researchers felt that a leader