Modernization of Trait Theory 1

MALT 2005-1 Course LT 516

Major Cognitive Schemas

Modernization of Trait Theory: The Ascendance

of Emotional Intelligence

Stacey Crawford
MALT 2005-1
Royal Roads University

May 15, 2005

Faculty Advisor:
Elizabeth Cull
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Despite the volume of early studies on personal attributes of leadership, it is

incomplete when faced with modern ideals. It is not until we associate the early work of

individual trait study with the more recent awareness of emotional intelligence does it

appear to provide a more thorough approach to understanding the complexities of

successful leadership.

Trying to ascertain what character traits determine a great leader is a fascination

that has generated countless research studies. The nature of traits “refers to a variety of

individual attributes, including aspects of personality, temperament, needs, motives, and

values.” (Yukl, 2002, p. 53). Although early research provides us with a relevant

framework upon which to measure leadership effectiveness, the majority of these studies

isolated traits to their individual efficiency, which “fails to consider how the traits are

interrelated” (Yukl, 2002, p. 79).

Distinguishing the importance of relationship management, Kouzes and Posner

(2002) define leadership within the context that “Whatever the time, whatever the

circumstances, leadership is a relationship.” (Preface, XXVIII). The emergence of this

perspective is a refreshing addition to dated research being used to support trait theory.

The advancement of emotional intelligence as an attribute to support trait theory

is an important predictor of successful leadership (Goleman et al, 2002, p. 14);

nevertheless, there is value in the early research. The focus on individual attributes did

create an important foundation, as supported by Kouzes and Posner when they state
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“Leadership is an identifiable set of skills and practice” (2002, p. 20). Where this

assertion becomes dissimilar from past research is in the distinction that these skills “are

available to all of us, not just a few charismatic men and women” (p. 20).

Moving away from the historically personal dimension of trait study and

recognizing the importance of emotional intelligence allows us to evolve from the limited

perspective that the success of an organization “rises or falls on a single charismatic

leader” (Goleman et al., 2002, p. 36). This renders the art of relationship management as

an indispensable trait, one which incorporates an identifiable set of skills and practices

with the ability to connect their leadership attributes at the right time and place, with the

right person (Goleman et al., 2002).

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REFERENCES

Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., McKee, A. (2002). Primal leadership: Revitalizing

the power of emotional intelligence. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing.

Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. (2002). The leadership challenge. Third edition. San

Francisco: Jossey-Bass. (First edition 1987).

Yukl, G. (2002). Leadership in organizations. Fifth edition. Englewood Cliffs,

NJ: Prentice-Hall.