Traits and Behavior Theory of Leadership: Critique from Undistributed Middle

Abstract

Traits and/or behavior theory of leadership has a long tradition but the popular understanding of it may lead to fallacious positions. The current paper provides a critique, stemming from logic, of a reductionist approach to leadership in popular sources. The reductionist approach is manifested in propositions such as “possession of trait and/or behavior X makes one a leader.” First, the logical fallacy of the undistributed middle is explained. Second, the paper presents the appearance of the fallacy of the undistributed middle in leadership training and popular leadership materials. The paper demonstrates that popular unchecked traits and/or behavioral understandings of leadership generate misleading and logically flawed statements about leadership. The understanding of leadership built on such statements both originates and increases the ambiguity of the term leader and it likely results in ineffective training programs and actual performance on the job.