Thesis
The development of leadership theories resulted in many approaches to the leader’s role in an organization. Most emphasize the need for a leader to possess or develop a certain selection of traits that allow this person to guide others.
Annotated Bibliography
Benmira, S., & Agboola, M. (2021). Evolution of leadership theory. BMJ Leader, 5, 3-5. Web.
The article by Benmira and Agboola (2021) summarizes the main leadership frameworks developed between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries. The scholars describe the features of such approaches as the great man, trait, behavioral, transactional, collaborative, servant, inclusive, and more. Apart from explaining the basics of each model and its differences, the authors provide historical context and explain why the changes in research occur at certain periods.
The article is supported by previous scholarship and built on a selection of old and new sources. Moreover, it provides a solid foundation for researching major leadership theories, their creators, and the reasons behind the popularity of related views. The evolution of approaches is covered broadly and cannot be the only source of information about each model. Nevertheless, this article helps guide the chosen thesis statement as it presents a timeline of a leader’s transformation of traits.
Harrison, C., Omeihe, I., Simba, A., & Omeihe, K. (2020). Leading the way: The entrepreneur or the leader?Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 1-17. Web.
Harrison et al. (2020) consider the connections between leadership and entrepreneurship in their paper. They argue that using leadership models in business has led to research uniting these two spheres and developing a subsection of entrepreneurial leadership within the broader understanding of what makes a great leader. Therefore, the article considers the history of scholarship, examines how the two domains interact, and questions whether entrepreneurship and leadership should be distinct concepts.
This article presents a literature review of previous sources to conclude that entrepreneurial leadership is one of the approaches and not a separate major field of study. The authors build the discussion using many sources and drawing on knowledge from works interested in business relations. This paper allows one to broaden the thesis and present a corporate view of leadership.
Hunt, T., & Fedynich, L. (2019). Leadership: Past, present, and future: An evolution of an idea. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 8(2), 22-26. Web.
The investigation by Hunt and Fedynich (2019) considers the changes in leadership theories throughout the ages. In contrast to other selected studies, this article presents a deeper look into the history of humankind, connecting major events and trends to how the perception of leadership has evolved with the changing needs and technological development. Furthermore, each model is critiqued based on the information available upon its formation and the modern knowledge of the world.
Ultimately, the authors argue that the approach to leadership has changed from centering on a specific person to deriving several traits that can form a leadership figure. This literature review explores leadership and people’s lives in the early and modern ages. It can assist the thesis by explaining the reasons behind the formation of leadership traits and how they were and are affected by societal development.
Kazim, F. A. (2019). Digital transformation and leadership style: A multiple case study. The ISM Journal of International Business, 3(1), 24-33.
In the multiple case study analysis, Kazim (2019) presents an application of leadership research in the modern business digital transformation (DT) sphere. The researcher aims to solve the problem of ineffective leaders in DT by examining which leader traits are necessary for them to succeed. It is proposed that those who head the DT process should possess such qualities as adaptability, vision, engagement, humility, and openness to communication.
Through interviews with selected participants – members of organizations going through DT – the author confirms the positive value of these characteristics and emphasizes the role of leadership in business innovation. This article is an example of how leadership theory can be used for modern analysis in the business sphere. It also aids the selected thesis by showing how particular traits change the course of a project or venture.
Locke, L. G. (2019). The clay feet of servant leadership. Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, 22(1), 34-42.
The article by Locke (2019) reviews the concept of servant leadership and its connection to Christian principles. The author focuses on the history of the approach in and outside the business scholarship. The main argument in this critical review is that servant leadership’s characteristics align with many beliefs supported by Scripture, but the theory is not directly related to Christian values. Therefore, although this approach is close to the ideas of the faith, it should not be accepted and utilized without criticism.
This paper provides a detailed investigation of Christian texts and how they can inform servant leadership. As an expert review, this work should be regarded as a personal opinion that is subject to bias. Nevertheless, it offers an interesting perspective on the connections and distinctions between Christian values and the aims of servant leadership.
Manning, P. (2017). Faith, leadership, and public life: Leadership lessons from Moses to Jesus. Castle Quay Books.
Manning’s book (2017) explores the connection between leadership, faith, and politics. It is a collection of analyses based on prominent religious figures that examine their behavior, actions, and words to present a picture of a leader. The author’s Christian perspective allows him to thoroughly investigate the details of Scripture and connect them to how people can conduct themselves in the political world. Moreover, the author has significant experience working in the public service sphere, which grants him an inside look into how the political world operates. Thus, the book provides much information to examine how various leadership traits relate to the Christian worldview and how they can enhance one’s political performance.
NIV Holy Bible Compact. (2022). Zondervan. (Original work published 1973)
The Holy Bible in the New International Version (NIV) is a collection of books describing the creation of the world by God and the first steps of humankind. The prophecies, lessons, and stories gathered in this work constitute the basis of the Christian faith and frame the main ideas connected to how one develops a Christian worldview. The Holy Bible is a seminal work in religious studies and secular subjects. It informs and guides the researcher and provides the framework for any investigation. In the case of the leadership traits-related thesis, the Bible can serve as a source of knowledge about the behaviors of prominent historical figures. Furthermore, it provides guidance about positive qualities and virtues that a person can possess.
Nübold, A., Van Quaquebeke, N., & Hülsheger, U. R. (2020). Be(com)ing Real: A Multi-source and an Intervention Study on Mindfulness and Authentic Leadership. Journal of Business and Psychology, 35, 469-488. Web.
The study by Nübold et al. (2020) investigates the concept of authentic leadership and its potential to positively affect the organization. The scholars conducted an experimental study to determine the impact of mindfulness and its use in creating a genuine leader in a company. The results align with the idea that leadership is supported by mindful behavior, and the latter also improves the followers’ perceptions and work performance. The study’s experiment is a unique part of the scholarship that implements theories in real life and tests their performance. The article can add to the thesis by presenting the benefits and characteristics of authentic leadership, further broadening one’s view of how to approach such top executive positions.
Sun, P., & Shang, S. (2019). Personality traits and personal values of servant leaders. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 40(2), 177-192. Web.
One of the leader types defined in the current research is the servant leader. The study by Sun and Shang (2019) identifies the characteristics that distinguish this behavior from others and the values that correspond to one’s servants. The authors surveyed executives to get a direct view of their views and opinions and collect their perceptions about leading others and guiding them towards success. As a result, such traits as openness and agreeableness help servant leaders thrive.
This study is based on the personal views of executives, which may present a biased interpretation of their characteristics. Nevertheless, it is a solid investigation of their personalities and values, adding to the scarce scholarship on the servant leadership type. The article can, therefore, benefit the analysis proposed in the thesis and deliver a better understanding of the different approaches to leaders’ behavior.
Taraza, E. I., & Anastasiadou, S. D. (2019). Personality traits in the light of the effectiveness of transformational vocational school leadership and leaders. New Trends and Issues Proceedings on Humanities and Social Sciences, 184-191. Web.
In their article, Taraza and Anastasiadou (2019) review the Big Five Personality Traits model and investigate how it influences transformational leadership. The scholars survey executives and measure their characteristics and performance in different areas of their duties. As a result, the study shows that openness is a factor that strongly affects leaders’ ability to set directions and drive people and the organization toward positive change. Extraversion is another positive quality that aligns with leaders’ ability to connect with and motivate their followers. Overall, the article adds to the proposed thesis by providing an example of traits that define a leader and how different characteristics are linked to particular responsibilities.
Uslu, O. (2019). A general overview to leadership theories from a critical perspective. Marketing and Management of Innovations, 1, 161-172. Web.
The overview article by Uslu (2019) presents different leadership theories and critiques their creation and application in business and other spheres. The review of major ideas here focuses on how these models perform under different circumstances and what pitfalls are exposed if the leadership is ineffectively chosen or performed. The study is a narrative exploration based on the author’s expertise and scholarly sources, which may make the work prone to a certain degree of bias.
Nonetheless, this article presents an essential discussion of the assumptions and criticisms not present in other research papers. For instance, it demonstrates the weaknesses of each model, the expectations placed on leaders and followers, and the biases of the creators of the approaches. The paper helps broaden one’s understanding of leadership and the thesis, and can assist in understanding the characteristics often linked to specific theories.
Van Wart, M. (2011). Dynamics of leadership in public service: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). Taylor & Francis Group.
In his book, Van Wart (2011) focuses on public service and discusses the models, traits, skills, and behaviors that define a good leader. The book is divided into theory, its application, and practice evaluation. The author goes through several steps to build the foundation for understanding how leaders should behave when working as public servants and how this practice differs from leadership in the private sphere.
Thus, the book offers a perspective that complements the business-oriented scholarship, creating a deeper understanding of which characteristics are necessary for executives to lead other people. It also addresses the gap in this research and compares the goals, aims, and processes in the business and public service areas. The thesis exploring different types of leadership and related characteristics can significantly benefit from this source based on this distinction.