7 Major Leadership Theories Every Manager Should Master in 2022

Does a good manager make a good leader or vice versa? Well, it's a challenging question with no specific, precise answers. This often leads individuals to ponder the difference between a manager and a leader. Though leadership and management aren't the same; however, they must go hand-in-hand.

To be productive in their role, managers must absorb specific leadership skills. Leaders who want to lead efficiently must know how to manage their team, peers, and stakeholders, so they feel more motivated, engaged, and inspired, leading to a successful company.

Eventually, both roles require understanding human behavior to create an engaged workforce and more efficient workspaces.

This article will discuss seven major leadership theories that will intensify your leadership skills and help you perform better as a professional.

7 Major Leadership Theories That Managers Must Know

Several studies have targeted leadership for years, giving rise to many theories. Researchers and philosophers put forward these theories, and cognitive professionals describe what goes into the making of a leader. These theories highlight the characteristics and behaviors that can aid people in developing their leadership skills.

1. Contingency Theory

This theory indicates that no one style of leadership may apply to every scenario. In other words, the theory identifies that variables might influence any particular scenario, and a leader must select the right course of action, considering those variables.

The best leaders have the suitable characteristics and the potential to assess the requirements of their followers, analyze the scenario, and act accordingly.

2. Situational Leadership Theory

Similar to the above Theory, Situational Leadership Theory stresses the significance of situational variables and doesn't consider anyone's style to be a better leader than the others.

According to US professor Paul Hersey and leadership mentor Ken Blanchard, this Theory is a combination of leadership style and follower maturity level.

According to the Situational Leadership Theory, different scenarios demand different leadership and decision-making styles.

3. Transformational Leadership Theory

This Theory, also called Relationship Theory, focuses on the relationship between leaders and their followers. The Theory talks about the type of charismatic and inspiring leader, thus motivating their followers to change and become better at what they do.

Transformational leaders are usually motivated by their potential to showcase to their followers the importance of the task and the higher good involved in execution. As a result, these leaders aren't just focused on a team's performance but provide individual team members the necessary push to reach their ability.

These theories assist you in sharpening your skills.

4. Transactional Theories

Also called the Management Theories or Exchange Leadership Theories, they revolve around the role of teamwork, supervision, and organization. In addition, these theories consider punishments and rewards as the basis for leadership actions.

This is one of the primarily leveraged theories in an enterprise, and the supporters of this style leverage punishments and rewards to encourage the workforce.

5. Behavioral Theory

In this Theory, the emphasis changes from the qualities of leaders to their actions and behaviors. In contrast to the Great Man Theory and the distinctive approach to leadership, this Theory considers efficient leadership to be the outcome of several acquired skills.

It proposes that a person can learn to be a good leader, and it's one of the best leadership theories.

6. Great Man Theory of Leadership

Great Man Theory of Leadership is one of the earliest theories based on the assumption that leadership is an inborn process and leaders are born than created.

Here, a person capable of leading has the personality characteristics of a leader, such as communication skills, confidence, intellect, and more, from birth, making them stand out from the crowd.

Great Man Theory of Leadership emphasizes leadership as a trait you either possess or don't; it isn't something you can grasp or learn.

7. Trait Theory of Leadership

This theory follows the Great Man Theory in assuming that the leaders are born with qualities that make them more beneficial for the leadership role than others who lack those inborn traits.

As such, the theory highlights traits like creativity, intelligence, responsibility, and accountability, among others, that let a person excel at leadership.

A significant flaw in the distinctive approach to leadership is that it doesn't provide a definitive leadership quality list. However, the theory credibility lies in the fact that the importance of personality qualities in leadership is well supported by research. Trait Theory of Leadership will assist you in enhancing your leadership theories.