Great Man Theory and Trait Theory both implement the idea that great leaders have specific qualities that have allowed them to be successful at leadership.
Great Man Theory presents the idea that these great leaders (or “great men”) have inherited these qualities from their parents and therefore are born as leaders, not made (“Leadership: do traits matter?” By: Shelley A. Kirkpatrick and Edwin A. Locke). A pro of this theory is that leaders did not have to prove themselves, because the people already believed that they were meant to be the leader. The people would view and respect the leader simply because it was his/her “God-given right” to lead. A con of this theory however is that some (or most) of these people who were “born into leadership” were not fit to be a leader and there were other people out there who could lead better.
Trait Theory evolved from Great Man Theory in the early 20th century (“Leadership: do traits matter?” By: Shelley A. Kirkpatrick and Edwin A. Locke). Trait theory did not assume whether or not a leader is born with leadership traits or simply acquired them through experiences and learning. Trait Theory focuses more on the traits themselves – how a leader’s traits are different from a non-leader’s traits, what the specific leadership traits are, and if the traits alone can make a leader or if there is more to it. According to Trait Theory, the core traits of successful leaders are drive, leadership motivation, honesty/integrity, self-confidence, cognitive ability, and knowledge of the business (“Leadership: do traits matter?” By: Shelley A. Kirkpatrick and Edwin A. Locke). A pro of Trait Theory is that it distinguishes leaders from non-leaders in specific ways, making it easier for companies, recruiters, and people to know who would make an effective leader based on what they can see on paper. A con of this theory is that recruiters may look solely for these traits, and disregard other traits or people who could still be helpful to the company.
At the end of the day, people are complex; I believe that there are certain qualities that make certain people better in terms of leadership, but it just isn’t as black-and-white as these theories present.
Jamie's Leadership Journey 