The Behavioural Theory of leadership is a big leap from Trait Theory, as it was developed scientifically, by conducting behaviour-focused studies.
The theory emphasises that leadership capability can be learned rather than being inherent.
This theory is based on the principle that a leader’s behaviours can be conditioned in a manner that one can have a specific response to specific stimuli.
Behavioural theories of leadership are also known as the style approach to leadership. These theories focus on the behaviour of a leader and what leaders do and how they act.
In the 1940s. two parallel studies on leadership were in progress; one based on traits displayed by leaders and another on the behaviours exhibited by leaders. Trait Theory assumes that leaders are born rather than made. Behavioural theories are based upon the belief that great leaders are made not born.
Behavioural theories concentrate on what leaders do. The behavioural approach is based on the leader’s beliefs, values and interpersonal relations and considers the leader’s attitude, behaviour, opinion and concern about his followers and organisation. Studies leadership behaviour from the point of view of motivation supervision and authority. behavioural theories assume that specific behavioural patterns of leaders can be acquired, people can learn to become leaders through teaching and observation.
What are behaviours? behaviour is the range of actions and mannerisms made by organisms systems or artificial entities in conjunction with their environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment. What is human behaviours? human behaviour refers to the range of behaviours exhibited by humans and which are influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion and genetics. In humans behaviour is believed to be controlled primarily by the endocrine system and the nervous system. behaviours can be either innate or learned. human behaviour is experienced throughout an individual’s entire lifetime. It includes the way they act based on different factors such as genetics, social norms, core faith and attitude. behaviour is impacted by certain traits each individual has. The traits vary from person to person and can produce different actions or behaviour from each person.
What is behavioural theory of leadership? behavioural theory of leadership is a leadership theory that considers the observable actions and reactions of leaders and followers in a given situation. behavioural theories focus on how leaders behave and assume that leaders can be made rather than born. Successful leadership is based on definable learnable behaviour. behavioural theories of leadership are classified as such because they focus on the study of specific behaviours of a leader. For behavioural theorists, a leader behaviour is the best predictor of his leadership influences and as a result is the best determinant of his or her leadership success. These theories concentrate on what leaders actually do rather than on their qualities. different patterns of behaviour are observed and categorised as styles of leadership. This area has probably attracted the most attention from practising managers.
The concept of behavioural leadership was a result of many Leadership Studies. The first and foremost study on leadership was carried out by a psychologist Kurt Lewin and his associates in 1939. Lewin identified different styles of leadership this autocratic democratic and laissez-faire leadership. Subsequently, many research studies could be categorised under the heading of the behavioural approach, leading to the identification of various leadership styles and their correlation with measures of effectiveness. The three studies that can be said to be strongly representative of the ideas in this approach are the first one is Ohio State studies. The second one is the Michigan studies. The third important study is the studies by Blake and Moden. During these behavioural studies, researchers focused on specific behaviours of leaders. What leaders do, the actions leaders take, the leader’s core values, the leaders belief system, and how a leader manages interpersonal relations. These studies identified two key leadership styles First being oriented toward the task. In this style task behaviours by leader facilitate goal accomplishment and help the team to achieve its objectives. The second style is the orientation toward people. In this style relationship behaviours of leaders help team members feel comfortable with themselves with each other and with a situation in which they find themselves.