Explain and evaluate three different theories of leadership. What does Research Paper

Explain and evaluate three different theories of leadership. What does the emergence of on leaders as 'corporate psychopaths' contribute to the discussion - Research Paper Example Other theories take pride in being inclusive by incorporating essential factors like contingency. Others theories have a narrow focus on leadership by concentrating on the causes and effects of the leader attribution processes on subordinates and followers. Others theories examine on the wider array of leadership functions, expounding on production and worker satisfaction and the need for external alignment and organisational change (Waite, 2008). This study focuses on three theories of leadership namely great man theories, skills theories approach and relational theories. Great man theories of leadership trait theories are the oldest of all concepts that seeks to explain leadership. The earliest leadership studies assumed the notion that leaders were born and not made. Great man theories thought of leaders always as males with natural competencies of authority and influence. The trait theory reflects the first systematic efforts to study leadership to establish leadership traits, which made certain people great leaders. Military, political and social leaders’ traits like Indira Gandhi, napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln and Catherine the great were used to formulate the theory. The great men theory was challenged in the mid 20th century on the basis of universality of leadership qualities. One challenge on the theory held that there is no constant set of qualities that distinguished leaders from non-leaders. In addition, a person who had leadership attributes in one situation may not make a good leader in another. Further criticism held that individual attributes were largely associated with people’s perception of leadership (Outcalt, Faris, & McMahon, 2001). The trait leadership has gained fresh interest through the present prominence given on charismatic and visionary leadership. Charismatic leadership attracted fresh interest following the election of president Barrack Obama in 2008. Charismatic