Behavioural Theory of

Leadership
Prepared by: Treepthee PRITHIPAUL
Soudha RAJCOOMAR
Khushboo MANGAR
Rushaa
 What is behaviourism?

• Behaviourism or behavioural psychology is the theory of learning

based on the idea that all behaviours are acquired through
conditioning.

• Conditioning: it occurs through interaction with the environment

and it is our responses to these environmental stimuli that shape
our actions.
 Behavioural theories of leadership

• Behavioural Theory of Leadership is a leadership theory

that considers the observable actions and reactions of leaders
and followers in a given situation. Behavioural theories focus on
how leaders behave and assume that leaders can be made, rather
than born and successful leadership is based on definable,
learnable behaviour.
 Behavioural theories of leadership
• They focus more in studying specific behaviours of a leader.

• For behavioural theorists, having a leader behaviour predicts on whether

his/her leadership has any influence on the followers and determines
whether his/her leadership is successful.

• Since behaviours can be conditioned in a way that one can have a specific
response to a specific stimuli, behaviourists believe that anyone can be
made a leader through the teaching of appropriate behavioural response for
any situation.
Areas of activities in the theory
 Benefits of behavioural theory
• As stated by Ghee and Daft (2004), a wide range of studies on
leadership behaviour validates and gives credibility to the basic
principles of the approach.

• It helps managers decide how to behave as a leader, depending on

concerns for people, collaboration and productivity.

• Leaders are not born, but made- focuses on the actions of leaders
rather than on mental qualities or internal states.
Pitfalls of the theory
Disadvantage of Autocratic Leadership
An autocratic leader makes his own decisions which can be very dangerous in
this age of technological and sociological complexity.
Discourage employees from thinking about process improvements.

It creates problems both with employee morale and production in the long-run,
due to their resentment.
Employee dissatisfaction
Does not prepare employee for promotion or possible advancements.

It is unsuitable when the workforce is knowledgeable about their jobs and the job
calls for team work and cooperative spirit.
 Disadvantage of Democracy

Time consuming for taking decisions.

Leaders spends too much time listening.
Long decision making cycle.

Difficult to control
Lack of efficiency when group members back maturity and skills.
Disadvantage of Laissez – Faire (“Let it be)

Poor coordination and direction

Poor involvement with the group.
Some employees do not perform well without direction and supervision.

Team members are no longer taken seriously

 References

• Avolio B., Walumbwa F., Weber, T. (2009). Leadership: current theories, research, and future
directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 421-449.
• DeRue, S. & Myers C. (2013). Leadership development: a review and agenda for future
research. The Oxford Handbook of Leadership and Organizations, 37, 832-855.
• DeRue, S., Nahrgang, J., Wellman, N., Humphrey, S. (2011). Trait and behavioral theories of
leadership: an integration and meta-analytic test of their relative validity. Personnel
Psychology, 64, 7-52.
• http://www.technofunc.com/index.php/leadership-skills-2/leadership-
theories/item/behavioral-theories-of-leadership