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Leadership Models
Leadership is the use of non-coercive influence to direct and coordinate the activities of a group toward accomplishing a goal. This is done through direction, encouragement, sensitivity, consideration, and support. Leadership styles will vary from individual to individual. They may also vary throughout the course of one’s career/life. There has been much debate about leadership and the definition of many leadership theories. Early theories of leadership focused on behaviors and qualities of successful leaders.
Leaders must take into account the type of employees they are working with and use this to successfully engage the employees. No single motivator applies to all employees. People are complex and attempts that are made to explain their behavior is also complex. There are many approaches to develop theories of employees’ motivation. One of the first approaches to explain motivation was developed by Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy- of-needs. According to Maslow’s theory within every human being exists a hierarchy of five needs: physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization. Times have changed and so has the research that originally supported this belief. Researchers have now found that Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is not the way to motivate employees (Robbins & Decenzo, 2004). Employee that are actively engaged by their leader, are willing to go that extra step to get the job done. Various leaders are successful at leading employees. This paper will examine leadership models that are effective in carrying out organizational goals. The leadership theories/ models that will be examined are trait, behavioral, transactional, and transformational. The similarities and differences will be discussed in addition to how each will address contemporary leadership issues and challenges.
Trait Theory
Trait theory is one of

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