Leadership Theories

In this post I will be discussing and analysing the different leadership theories in group cohesion.

"Leadership is the process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal," Weinberg and Gould (2011, p203).

The leadership theory called Trait Approach believes that people are born with certain characteristics that make them better at being a leader. Video from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHd7tuiWgaQ By: B2Bwhiteboard

Traits Approach theory "considers leadership traits to be relatively stable personality disposition, such as intelligence, assertiveness, independence, and self-confidence," Weinberg and Gould (2011, p204). This suggest that a leader in basketball would be able to change sport to football and still show leadership qualities and lead a team because of the traits they were born with. Unlike a lot of theories trait theories focuses on the "differences between individuals. The combination and interaction of various traits forms a personality that is unique to each individual. Trait theory is focused on identifying and measuring these individual personality characteristics." Kendra Cherry (n.d). However people now believe that "leaders have a variety of personality traits. There are no specific traits that make all leaders successful." Weinberg and Gould (2011, p205).  

Another Theory is the cognitive-affective personality system (CAPS) leadership model. Image From: http://e-book.lib.sjtu.edu.cn/iupsys/Proc/stock1/images/st2000v1c12g008.jpg

"According to the model, the five CAPS elements interact with each other and with the presented situation and personality of the leader to produce the resultant behaviour response," Richard H.Cox (2012, p382). This suggest that although an individual might have the personality to be a leader but for there behaviour to make them a successful leader them the situation needs to be taken into account. 




To conclude, I feel that the cognitive-affective personality system (CAPS) leadership model is a more efficient model than the Traits Approach. I think this because CAPS goes further by suggesting that the situation also affects the behaviour of the leader, and not just the different qualities that an individual is born with.   
     

References
Kendra Cherry (n.d) Trait Theory of Personality, [Online] Available from:
http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/trait-theory.htm , [Accessed 1st February 2013]

Richard H.Cox (2012) Sport Psychology Concepts and Applications, (E.d. 7) Singapore, Connect Learn Succeed.  

Weinberg and Gould (2011) Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology, (E.d. 5), United States of America, Human Kinetics.