Submitted by: Submitted to: Summary: Subject: Department: Discipline: Semester: Section:

Kashif Hayat Dr.humera Manzoor Trait (do traits matters or not) Leadership IMS BBA (HONS) 7th A

Kohat University Of Science And Technology Kohat (KUST)

The main focus in this article was on what leadership depends, are leaders born or there are some traits, skills which makes good and effective leaders. There are different concepts and theories which described that leaders are born. In 19th and 20th century theories of great man were famous and according to great man theories leadership qualities are inherited and were present in people of upper class. Later on the theories of the great man were denied and few trait theories were introduced which says that leadership is not inherited it is based on once qualities with the particular traits which makes effective leaders. In the mid of 20th century Ralph Stogdill research questioned the trait theory he defend his research by his arguments in which he says that the traits are not sufficient/ enough to become effective leader. According to stogdill, there are also situational factors which make an effective leader. In order to defend his argument he says that business leader and military leaders are different traits. Stogdill further says that there are particular traits to make effective leader. Leaders differ from non-leaders thats why leaders must do things in better way than others. There are significant traits traits and also other traits present in the effective leaders are as follows: Drive: drive is the motivational level of leader in order to achieve particular things in life. And how much he is interested in his work and wants to go to esteem position? How leader is improving his work and his activities? How much leader is active? How much leader is cooperative with his/her subordinates in order to accomplish mission/vision? The use of persistency in better way taking healthy and good decisions. Not to wait for the things to happen get ready for before things happen and take right actions leaders must be initiative and motivate his/ her subordinates to promote organization. Leadership Motivation: this is the level of intensity that how much leader is motivated to accomplish goals of the organization. For leaders if he/her is socially motivated its good for the organization rather than personally motivated. Leader must be willing to exercise power over subordinates. Honesty and Integrity: this is important for any leader that how much he doing things honestly. Honesty is the trust between leaders and followers. Leaders make those promises which they can deliver.

Self Confidence: this shows the level of self-confidence in leader, that how much he believes in his self while making decisions. How much they gain other's confidence in them. How much leader is emotionally stable? How he inspires his subordinates and others. Cognitive Ability: this is about the quality of processing the information that how leaders process the information. Leader must be able to solve the problems and make strategies, and take fruitful decisions. Knowledge of Business: an effective leader is one who having knowledge about the company or the industry he is operating in. the formal degree is not the crucial requirement it based on the knowledge of leader. Other Traits: it shows the extra ordinary quality of the leader like is the leader charismatic? how much he is flexible when it comes to adaption. And how much he motivates others to adapt new things. What is the degree of his/her creativity? How much he/she is good in solving problems? And how effectively he makes decisions. Above were the traits which shows that how any single person can become effective leader. However the process of leadership can be enhanced and be converted in to effective leader when combined with skills, visions and how the vision is implemented. There are specific skills which are required when creating a vision for the organization for the future position. For this leader must have good communicating skills which he must use when he/she communicate with his/her followers, which may be inspirational speeches, emotional appeals. And leader must play role in making strategies in order to achieve organization vision. In order to implement the vision, however requires the leaders to: Structure the Organization in such way that it meets with your vision. And through which any information can be easily communicated with the all layers of management in efficient way. Welcome the customers to give you feedback and give the value to the customers feed back as it will improve service and product of the organization. Selection and Training: it is the responsibility of the leader to make sure that the people who are hired having the necessary traits which leader needs and organization needs to fulfill the vision of the organization. After hiring maintain their skills and improve the skills they have. Motivating: its difficult to do every thing alone so for leaders it is important to motivate the subordinates for the accomplishment of the vision by setting goals. Their must be flow of information between the followers and leaders so that leader can ask what he/she actually

want from them. Leader must behave in such away that he/she become the role model of his/her followers. First leaders have to do those things which they want from their followers so that followers will cover their leader. Enhance the self-confidence of the subordinates. Delegating some power/authority and responsibility to the subordinates by giving them rewards and punishments through which leader can achieve the vision of the organization. Managing Information: leaders know well how to use information in organization. They are good in gathering information. Leader must be good listeners and welcome the subordinates to share their opinions, by this subordinates become more committed and loyal to the organization. Team Building: there must be effective collaboration between the subordinates and leader. Promoting Change and Innovation: vision of any organization not changes but tools may be changed so welcome the subordinates to bring innovation. This is the responsibility of the management to hire and train the employees. Above there are traits which may not be followed or may be these traits are present or absent in any individual. But the management will prefer those employees who having basic significant traits such as dive, honesty and integrity, desire to lead and cognitive ability. Management can develop traits by training and by building once self-confidence by job rotations, one can also develop traits by experience which based on knowledge. This article concluded that the individual traits do matter to some extent and individuals can be good leaders as compared to others.