Question

After reading “Traits and Skills Theories as the Nexus between Leadership and Expertise: Reality or Fallacy?” evaluate whether you believe leadership is more a behavior, a trait, or a skill. From the reading, select which research development from the past fifty years best explains your evaluation. In your replies to others, discuss how your view may be similar or different from theirs.  

Answer 1

After reading the article, I have come to the conclusion that leadership is more a behavior more than it is a character, a trait or a skill. We can say that the way a leader decides to handle the situation and the way that they decide to communicate it to their employees and subordinates, set the benchmark of possible reasoning behind positive work and motivated employees. Earlier, it was believed that leadership was more a trait and or a skill which was based on the research for that time period. Business opportunities were fewer in comparison and the competition was also not as active as it is in the current market. Leaders were considered to be born rather than made. But, today's business climate requires the leaders to be functional in all areas that require their execution. A leader should be motivated, empathetic and most importantly should have the long-term goal in their mind. This is something that can be learned through experience as well as through following the examples of another. A leader’s behavior is the greatest source of their power which is provided by the fact that most leaders that are considered great such as Elon Musk utilize referent power which is due to their understanding of their responsibility as a shepherd of their flock. They nurture talent, foster open communication as well as-as create a better understanding of the possible solutions which can be used in order to deal with the situation.