Addis Ababa University
College of Business and Economics Department
Logistic and supply chain management
Assignment of leadership theory
Name: Workinesh Abshale
Section 3
ID No, GSE/2391/16
Submitted to: Dr. Zelalem Bayisa
December, 2023
Leadership theory
Introduction
Leadership theories provide frameworks and perspectives for understanding and studying
leadership. They attempt to explain how leaders emerge, develop, and influence others
within various contexts.
Theories of leadership explain how and why specific individuals become leaders. They
emphasize the characteristics and actions that people might adopt to improve their
leadership skills.According to leaders,strong ethics and high moral standards are essential
qualities of agood leader.
Leadership is the art of guiding ateam or organizationthrough effective decision making,
setting a vision, motivating members and achieving collective goals with charisma and
integrity.
Leadership is influencing other people to follow. Leadership happens at all levels within
organization.
Purpose of leadership
It helps to direct an organization’s resources for improved efficiency and the achievement of
goals.Effective leadersprovide clarity of purpose,motivate and guide the organization to
realize its mission.
What Makes an Honest Leader?
Asuccessful leader possesses personality, atransparent vision and ambition.A strong leader
creates organizational success by encouraging the team to perform at highest level.
Essential Leadership skills of Excellent leaders
Understand the way to effort support.Supportive leaders are accessible to their
staff,transparent about their choices,team players and adept communicators of
plans and tactics.
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There are key leader ship theories
1. The transactional theory
This theory was developed to boost company productivity.It is aleader ship approach
that emphasizes the value of hierarchy for enhancingorganizational
effectiveness.These managers place high importance on structure and utilize their
authority to enforce rules to inspire staff to perform their best.
Managers who practice transactional leadership keep an eye on their staff,making
sure they are fall short.
Leaders who practice transactional leadership:
Target immediate objectives.
Favor standardized processes and regulations
Recent changes
Discourage original thought
Emphasis on ones own interest
Encourage perfaormace
When there are challenges that are clearly stated and the main goal is to finish a
work,transactional Leadership works well.
2. Theory of Transformation
The relationship between leaders and staff can help the organization,according to the
transformational theory of management.Leaders develop a vision for their team
avision for their members and motivate them to realize it.Employeemoral is raised
and inspired by transformational leaders,which helps them performbetter at
work.These managers encourage staff by their deeds rather than their words because
they specialize in setting an example.
Leaders who practice transformational leadership:
Self-manage
Set an example
Give interaction a high priority
Be proactive in your work
Promote the development of employees
Receptive to fresh concept
Take chances and make difficult choices.
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Transformational leaders,as opposed to transactional leaders,prioritize failed processes and
gather personnel who get along well to accomplish shared corporate objectives.
3. The Theory of Contingencies
In this theory there is no one right way to run an organization.Determining the optimal
strategy for leading an organization to achieve depends on both internal and external
considerations.The right candidate should fit the correct scenario,according to the
contingency theory.
The following elements influence the leadership style,based oncontingency theory:
Management approach
Work speed
Organizational policies and culture
Relationship between coworkers
Organizational objectives
Environment and routine at work
The management strategy that will help the organization achieve its objectives in a
particular situation is decided by the leader.According to this view,situations determine
whether or not leaders are effective.No matter how successful a leader is, the idea
explains,difficult situations will always arise.
It emphasizes that the leader s are aware that the conditions in combination with their
abilities have a role in their achievement.
4. The Theory of Situations
This theory emphasize the significance of context and holds that a leader should adjust
to the shifting context to achieve objectives and make judgments.The level of
competence and dedication of the team members can influence how these leaders
choose to lead.
Situational leadership:
Develop a connection with the workforce
Encourage employees
Recognize when alternative leadership philosophies are required in agiven
situation.
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The idea also distinguishes four main leadership styles:
Telling: Managers instruct staff members on what needs to be done and
how to go about it.
Selling : Team members are persuaded to adopt aleaders concepts.
Participating :Effective leaders encourage their team members to take an
active part in problem-solving and decision-making processes.
Delegating : Limiting their involvement leaders hand off the majority of
the work to team
The theory lists a few essential traits of a situational leader,such as problem-solving
abilities,trust, adaptability,insight and coaching.
5. The Great Man Theory
One of the first theories on leadership makes the assumption that these qualities are
inherent, which indicates that leaders are born, and cannot be learned.This
hypothesis asserts that aleader has certain innate human characteristic, such as:
Glamour
Decisive
Wisdom
Assertiveness
Appeal
This view point emphasizes the fact that individualscan not be thought to be effective
leaders. It’s a quality that either you have or you don’t.These abilities come naturally,thus
you cannot learn them or receive training in them.The idea holds that these leadership
qualities are constant over time andapply to all organization, regardless of the setting in
which these leaders are emerge employed.
6. The Trait Theory
The Great man theory is expanded upon by the trait theory of leadership,which is
predicated on the idea that effective leaders have particular personality qualities and
features of behavior.They become effective leaders in a number of circumstances thanks to
these qualities.It also promotes the idea that certain people are more naturally gifted as
leaders than others.
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The main characteristics of a successful leader are:
Emotional equilibrium
Acknowledging ones duty
Competence
Recognizing obstacles
Thinking with action
Motivational abilities
Talents in communication
Making decision with assurance
This Theory can guide to learn more about limitations and strengths. Then you can try to
strengthen your areas of weakness.The ideal person for a leadership position is chosen by
many organizations using the trait approach.
7. Servant leadership theory:
This theory emphasize leaders’ focus on serving the needs of followers and the
community.It promotes collaboration,empathy and ethical behavior.
8. Behavioral theory
This theory focuses on the actions of leaders and holds that other leaders are able to
imitate similar actions.The behavioral lear5ning hypothesis emphasizes behavior instead of
traits.Consistent with idea,observable patterns of conduct are classified as “styles of
leadership.”
Task-oriented leaders
Club leaders
People oriented leaders
Dictatorial leaders
9. Authentic leadership theory
It emphasize the importance of leaders being true to themselves and their values. It
builds trust and credibility among followers.
This theory emphasizes how employment or organization is being led rather who has been
formally designated as the leader.Within the functional leadership approach,the power to
get things done is supported by a collection of peoples behaviors rather than one individual.
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Important of leadership theory
It describes how and why particular people develop to be leaders.They lay emphasizes on
the actions and character characteristics that folks might adopt for improving their
leadership skills.
Any organization success may be a result of its leadership. Effective leadership is
another thing about the success and expansion of businessor industrial organization.
Applying leadership Theories at workplace
To point out leadership at the office include;-
Become a thought leader
Join a corporation for professionals
Consider the large picture
Think proactively and with positivity
Listen to others
Connect with a goal in mind
Accept diversity
All of above theories have some strength and weaknesses. Here’s a table outlining some
common leadership theories, along with their strength and weaknesses.
Leadership theory strengths weaknesses
Behavioral theory Emphasizes observable Lacks consideration of
behaviors that can be situational factors.
learned and developed. Ignores the role of
individual traits and
characteristics.
Traits theory Focuses on on identifying Approach alone does not
specific traits that fully explain leadership
contribute to effective effectiveness
leadership. Ignores situational
Providers a basis for factors and context
leadership selection and
development
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Contingency theory Recognizes the Complex and challenging
importance of matching to apply in practice
leadership style to the Requires a deep
situation. understanding of
situational variables.
Transformational Inspires and motivates May rely heavily on
leadership theory to followers to achieve leader’s personality
exceptional performance
Transactional theory Provides clear Can create a
exception’s and rewards transactional and
for performance transaction-focused work
Emphasizes environment
accountability and Heavily relies on
results extrinsic motivators,
which may not always be
effective.
Authentic leadership Emphasizes the Subjective nature of
theory importance of authenticity makes it
authenticity and self difficult to measure
expression objectively
Servant leadership theory Focuses on serving Can be challenging to
others and meeting their balance individual needs
needs with organizational
Greatman leadership Emphasizes the role of Ignores the influence of
theory exceptional individuals social,economic, and
in shaping history and cultural factors on
outcomes. leadership and success.
Situation leadership Recognizes the Can be complex and
theory importance of adapting challenging to apply in
leadership styles to practice,requiring a deep
different situations and understanding of
followers individual and
Encourages leaders to situational dynamics.
be responsive in their in Does not address the
leadership approach ethical aspect of
,fostering greater leadership,focusing
effectiveness in different primarily on task
situations. accomplishment and
follower development.
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