Trait Versus Process Leadership

Trait Versus Process Leadership

We have all heard statements such as “He is born to be a leader” or “She is a natural leader.”

The trait perspective suggests that certain individuals have special inborn characteristics or qualities that make them leaders, and that it is these qualities that differentiate them from non-leaders. Some of the personal qualities used to identify leaders include unique physical factors, personality features, and other characteristics.

The process viewpoint suggests that leadership is a phenomenon that resides in the context of the interactions between leaders and followers and makes leadership available to everyone. As a process, leadership can be observed in leader behaviors and can be learned.

Source: Leadership: theory and practice/ Peter G. Northouse – 6^th edition 2013