Final answer:
The early research on leadership traits focused on the Great Man approach, which centers on the concept that leaders are inherently born with distinctive traits. Modern research, including that by Eagly, Johannesen-Schmidt, & van Engen, supports transformational leadership as more effective, acknowledging a blend of innate traits and learned behaviors in effective leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
The early research on leadership traits was referred to as the Great Man approach. This approach was grounded in the belief that leaders are born with certain innate qualities that predispose them to be leaders, with a focus on the individual characteristics of those who have historically been considered to be great leaders. The Great Man theory posits that the inherent traits of these leaders set them apart from the rest of the population and were pivotal in their ability to lead and achieve greatness.
Contrasting this early approach, modern theories, such as transformational leadership, build on the understanding that leadership is not solely based on innate traits but can involve learned skills and behaviors. Transformational leaders, for example, possess qualities such as charisma, inspiration, intellectual stimulation, and consideration for others, which they employ to elevate and transform their organizations.
Research by Eagly, Johannesen-Schmidt, & van Engen (2003) provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of transformational leadership approaches over transactional ones, though it is acknowledged that leaders often display elements of both. Transactional leadership focuses more on maintaining the status quo through supervision and organization-directed goals, typically achieved by a system of rewards and punishments.