It is a framework that is used to deliver the basics of studying, interpreting, researching, and knowledge relevant to leadership. The variation in leadership classification has led to the constant change in paradigms over the past 60 years. The paradigms of leadership set out the rational design for the creation of an approach to analyzing ideas and approaches through leadership experience. It explores characteristics and features that make the framework distinctive, identifies a particular concept in different situations and understanding of the situation with the paradigm, and finally, establishes the ideology along with practice in the real world.
Trait theory paradigm
This paradigm focuses on the leaders. Leadership is based on the leaders of the early times. It highlights the characteristics of effective leaders from ineffective ones. This theory identifies the traits of leadership, such as appearance, aggressiveness, persuasiveness, and dominance, that a successful leader should have in his personality for effective leadership. Around 100 leadership traits were identified in person during the 1930s-1940s, but no one person has all the qualities; the above traits would act as a prerequisite for a person to be promoted to a leadership position.
Behavioral trait leadership paradigm
This leadership paradigm focuses on the nature and complexity of a leader’s task. The behavior of a person is a key to understanding and knowledge of leadership. The person’s behavior tells about the person’s capacity and whether he can stand as a leader or not. The parameters measured managerialism and mechanic task exercise. The person assessed is given the position of leader.
Contingency Leadership paradigm
This paradigm highlights the leadership styles that are relevant to the nature of the situation. It is a theory that acts as a universal approach for the effective leadership style adopted by leaders and followers in all given situations. The parameters for assessment are the situational factors such as work nature, followers, and the external environment.
Integrative leadership paradigm
This framework combines all the previous leadership paradigms. It focuses on the sustainability and development of the leadership of leaders and their impact on the followers. It is a process that explores the effect of similar behavior of the leader that ends in different effects on the followers. It also asserts the importance of participation by the managerial unit rather than a restrictive approach to the management of leadership.
This approach is modern and shifts the focus on the sustainability and development of the organization, mediated by the active managers and leaders that run the system.
There has been a shift from strict management to transformative leadership management. Managers work only on doing things right, but the leaders work on the universal approach to bring change and innovation to the organization. The new paradigm of leadership demands the participative approach from leaders and sets the participative leadership style as a universal style for all leaders. It replaced the old and conventional autocratic style of leadership management. The new transformational paradigm creates the need for integration between managers and leaders to create a participative vision for effective and successful leadership. Managers and leaders are both necessary for excellent and practical direction.
References
1. A paradigm for leadership. https://www.mheducation.co.uk. https://www.mheducation.co.uk/openup/chapters/9780335246243.pdf.
2. Lussier RN, Achua CF. Leadership, Theory, Application, and Skill Development. 5th ed. USA: Erin Joyner; 2013. Pages 19-21
