TRAIT THEORY OF

LEADERSHIP
AND
E.SHRIDHARAN & MAHATMA
GANDHI
SUBMITTED TO:
DR. D . K . TRI PATHI
S U B M I T T E D B Y:
B H U W N E S H WAR PA N D AYA
 TRAIT THEORY

Trait theory of leadership differentiates

leaders from non leaders by focusing on
personal qualities and characteristics.

Trait theory of leadership sought

personality, social, physical and intellectual
traits.

Trait theory assumes that leaders are born.

 Traits are classified into five
categories:
1. Intelligence and scholarship,
2. Physical traits like age, height, weight, strength
etc.
3. Social status and experience
4. Task Orientation
5. Personality characteristics:
Ambition and energy
Desire to lead
Honesty and integrity
Self confidence
Job relevant knowledge etc.
TRAIT THEORY AND MAHATMA
GANDHI
Mahatma Gandhi was the born leader according to
trait theorist . He was the born leader along with some
qualities which he improves with the situation and
requirement of the society.
Mahatma Gandhi had all characteristics of a trait leadership
like:
Ambition and Energy: Mahatma had a big ambition to
get freedom. He made his objective or target to make
INDIA as a sovereign country. And he did so. He provides
his all effort to the people to make Unity in Diversity.
Desire to Lead: The leader is that who has a desire
to lead the people. And Gandhiji leaded the Indian public.
When he gone to the South Africa and the see condition
of black people, he decided he will destroy these
inequalities.
Honesty and Integrity: Gandhiji was very honest as
we all know and he was honest to his work, to his
family, to his goal and to the Indians. He saw all people
of India equal. It is very essential to a leader to have
honesty towards his goal and the work.
Self confidence: Gandhiji was very confident that he
will succeed to provide the freedom to all of us. He
worked hard and so smartly to achieve his goal of
freedom. He did Dandi March in 1929 to make the salt in
Gujarat that shows his self confidence.
Intelligence: Gandhiji was very intelligent leader. As
he gave principle of Truth and Nonviolent to the
people. He had a good negotiation skill. He was well
educated person. He used to take decisions
efficiently.
Job relevant knowledge: M.K. Gandhi was clearly
knew that what should he do, when should he do the
tasks to achieve the objective. The leaders should
have the job relevant knowledge.
Besides it Gandhiji had done pune pact, Bharat
chhodo andolan, Sattyagrah etc. that shows his
leadership skill which him the greatest leader.
Today, also people follow him.
Trait theory and E.Shridharan
E.Shridharan is basically an engineer. Which the greatest
thing to the India as DELHI METRO. After making the
Delhi Metro he became famous. The Delhi Metro shows
his innovative ideas and leadership skill. He manages
the situations prepared the Metro very quickly.

He had an ambition to make Delhi metro quickly and he

is so energetic while doing his work. He had a desire to
lead the people and he initiate that shows his leadership
skill. E. Shridharan is a very intelligent leader. He was
honest towards his goal and work. He led the people and
things very fluently.
He was very confident while taking the charge to prepare
the Delhi Metro which was very big challenge for anyone
but he was very confident that he will prepare before the
given time and he did so. That made him a leader.
He has a very good knowledge about his work and he
worked smartly. Because without the knowledge about
the job how will anyone do the work.
So, both Gandhiji and Shridharan are the born
leader and have a good leadership skill that influences
the people. They are also coming in the charismatic
leadership categories.
THANKS