LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF ... - Drake University

Research showed that no traits were universally associated with
effective leaders and that situational factors were of significant influence
(Stogdill, 1974). "Traits are a precondition for successful leadership. Once
the leader has the requisite traits, they must take certain actions to be
successful, such as formulating a vision, role modeling, and setting goals"
(Kirkpatrick & Locke, 1991, p. 64).
In the late 1990s and early 2000s the concept of charisma re-
emerged in the context of transformational leadership (Bass, 1999;
Gardner & Avolio, 1998; Kirkpatrick 8 Locke, 1996; Yammarino, 1999). It
has been suggested that the reason for this re-emergence of trait theory is
because the traits cannot be considered as a sole precursor to leadership
success, but should be considered as a precondition to leadership
success. "Leaders who possess requisite traits must take certain actions
to be successful. Possessing certain traits only makes it more likely that
such actions will be taken and will be successful" (Kirkpatrick & Locke,
1991, p. 49).
Early studies focused on personality, intellectual, and physical traits
and attempted to distinguish leaders from nonleaders. Stogdill's (1 974)
meta-analysis of such traits found only minor differences between leaders
and followers. When no one could identify what consistent traits leaders
had in common, trait theory fell into disfavor. Attention shifted to
incorporating the impact of situations and of followers on leadership.