Leadership: Theoretical, Contextual, and Pragmatic Perspectives

LEADERSHIP

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Theoretical Leadership...........................................................................................................3
Contextual Leadership............................................................................................................6
Pragmatic Leadership.............................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Leadership can be referred as the action or attempt for leading group of people within an
organisation (Xenikou, 2017). The leaders generally focus on bringing influences in the business
activities and also on the employee's performance level in order to effectively accomplish the
organisational goals and objectives. Leadership is said to have various or multiple dimensions
and is considered as challenging topic for understanding as because its comprehension is
differently coded by different persons who studies it. The present report will explain about three
main sections including theoretical leadership, contextual leadership and pragmatic leadership.
The reasons will be explained in detail about why one need to study these sections of leadership.
Theoretical Leadership
Theoretical approaches to leadership helps in identifying and understanding the basic
elements of leadership (The Major Leadership Theories, 2019). The reason to study on the
leadership topic or subject can be identified after gaining understanding about the theoretical
perspectives of leadership. Theoretical perspectives of leaders help in exhibiting the evolution of
the thoughts and also helps in developing the thinking process from one leadership dimension to
another (Willis, Clarke and O'Connor, 2017). One of the most important reason for studying and
learning the theoretical leadership perspective is that it will help in enhancing the theoretical
knowledge about the leadership topic. And this theoretical knowledge can effectively assist in
the field of education.
Great Man theory describes that individuals are born leaders and no one can learn to
become a leader. This means that persons are born with some specific characteristics that makes
them leader. Upbringing and education are just the factors that helps in shaping the abilities and
skills of leaders. Experience is also considered as one of the factors that shapes the leaders'
capability. The great man theory is based on the great man's or influential hero's trait including
Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln, Mao Tse Tung, Kamal Ataurk and Mahatma Gandhi (Turnnidge
and Côté, 2018). This theory holds no scientific validity but it needs to be studied because it is
considered as the starting point for effectively understanding and gaining knowledge about
which of the human traits or characteristics lead to make great and effective leaders. This
theoretical perspective of leadership assumes that characteristics or traits of leadership are
intrinsic (Shamir, Arthur and House, 2018). Thus, the reason behind studying and implementing

the great man theory it holds various examples of great leaders and hero's that makes it is easy
for understanding the theoretical perspectives of leaders. This can also be implemented for
explaining the theoretical leadership to others through easy-story telling.
Trait theory of leadership is considered as the oldest theoretical approach that aims at
highlighting the personality traits of the effective and successful leaders. Personal characteristic
and the traits of person makes him leader and also different from their team members. There are
various traits that makes person different from others. Such as person's moral characteristics,
social traits, their intelligence and creativity mind-sets (Schyns and Riggio, 2016). The trait
theory needs to be studied as this theory describes that great and successful leaders are born with
specific given abilities that makes them different from others. The reason for studying trait
leadership theory is its clarity that makes it easy for understanding. Ease to understand makes it
easy for implementing as well. For example, the trait approach to leadership has also set some
benchmarks that makes it easy for understanding about what one will require for becoming the
leaders. This theory is important to be studied for understanding the inherent traits and
characteristics of effective and successful leaders.
The another theoretical perspectives of leadership can be identified by the Behavioural
theory (Oc, 2018). This theory is based on that effective leaders are not born but they are made
by developing certain qualities and traits. The behavioural theory focuses on the behaviours of
leader rather than their traits or characteristics. This perspective of leadership needs to studied
for understanding the actions and efforts of leaders instead of their internal traits. The reason for
studying this theoretical aspect of leadership is for identifying about the determining the actions
and activities of effective and successful leaders (Zareen, Razzaq and Mujtaba, 2015). For
example, the studies and learning in the theoretical leadership perspective will help the
individual to learn about how leaders effectively delegate the activities or tasks, their
communication style, their way to motivate team members and also about their way for carrying
out their activities. Thus, the main reason for studying the theoretical perspectives of leadership
and behavioural theory is because this makes effective contribution for the understanding the
leadership and its effectiveness (Dartey-Baah, 2015).
Contingency theory is based on that there is no best way for leading and thus, leadership
style needs to be based on the demands of current situation. According to the contingency theory,
no style can be best suitable for the various situations of the business. The reason for studying