Business Essentials, 12/e

Early Approaches to Leadership

1. Objective 9-2 Summarize early approaches to the study of leadership.

Although leaders and leadership have profoundly influenced history, careful scientific study of them began only about a century ago. Early studies focused on the traits, or personal characteristics, of leaders. Later research shifted to examine actual leader behaviors.

When asked to identify important leaders, people often mention influential historical figures such as Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Teresa.

Trait Approaches to Leadership

Early researchers believed that notable leaders had some unique ...