Traits

Historically, research about the trait perspective focused on genetic influences as determinants of leadership emergence and effectiveness. This yielded little consistent evidence of what contributes to the two elements.

For example, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the popular "great man" theory embodied the view that leaders are predominantly male and born, not made. However, supporters of this view did not have much to say about which specific genetic qualities beyond maleness were responsible for one's reaching a position of leadership.

Identification of the critical inherent attributes was something that preoccupied scholars interested in leadership for much of the first half the 20th century. In the second half, they began to shift attention to "acquired" traits. But trait theorists have not satisfactorily addressed how personal qualities, either genetic in origin or cultivated through experience and socialization processes, account for movement into positions of leadership and how leadership success is attained.