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Leadership Research and Theory

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Leadership Theory and Research

Abstract

Leadership theories are plagued by the absence of a definitional consensus among scholars. Many theories have emerged about leadership over the years. This chapter examines and evaluates the different early theories of leadership. The Great Man theory focuses on heroic individuals, implying that only a selected few can achieve greatness. The trait theory conceptualises leadership on the universality of some given attributes. The skill theory focuses on the abilities of a leader. Behavioural theory views leaders based on their actions and behaviour, while the contingency theory concerns the context of leadership. The shortcomings and limitations of these different theories, which have led to newer approaches to leadership, are also examined. Case studies are available to assess the reader’s understanding of the relevant approaches in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business and Enterprise, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, UK

    Christian Harrison

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  1. Christian Harrison
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Correspondence to Christian Harrison .

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Harrison, C. (2018). Leadership Research and Theory. In: Leadership Theory and Research . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68672-1_2

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