Leadership. Analysis of Trait, Behaviour, and Contingency Theories

There is no doubt of leaders’ existence and profound contribution in developing human civilization. History is littered with stories of many great leaders. Some are recognized for their dexterity in the battlefields, some perhaps for their business acumen or for inspiration for their employees.

Whatever the reasons for fame, humans have recognized that the capability of an individual to make others take action and achieve goals makes them stand out in society. However, the question still remains - what is it that makes them different?

Hence the purpose of this theoretical paper is to provide a review of the definition of leadership and of the three main theories of leadership, namely Trait, Behaviour, and Contingency Theory. The author then chooses a particular focus on Contingency Theory, which is analysed further.