Leadership Theories: Stogdill, House, Weber, and Business Applications

This essay critically evaluates three prominent leadership theories: Stogdill's Trait Theory, Robert House's Path-Goal Theory, and Max Weber's Transactional Theory. The essay delves into the core principles, strengths, and weaknesses of each theory, examining their application in real-world business scenarios. It highlights the key traits associated with effective leadership according to Stogdill, the role of leaders in clarifying paths and removing obstacles in House's model, and the transactional approach emphasizing rewards and punishments in Weber's theory. Furthermore, the essay analyzes the challenges leaders face within each theoretical framework, using Tesco as a case study to illustrate the practical implications of these leadership models. The research methodology adopted is secondary research, drawing from various journals, books, and online resources to support the analysis and conclusions. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of a leader's inherent qualities and the continuous learning process from past experiences.