Module Catalog →
Module Catalog →
Leadership is behavior — consideration and initiating structure.
After trait theory stalled, two great research programs asked what leaders do. At Ohio State, Ralph Stogdill, Carroll Shartle, and colleagues identified consideration and initiating structure; at Michigan, Rensis Likert's institute contrasted employee-centered and production-centered supervision. Together they made leadership observable, measurable — and teachable.
If traits couldn't predict leaders, perhaps behaviors could. Ohio State identified consideration and initiating structure; Michigan contrasted employee-centered with production-centered leadership. Leadership became something people do — and can learn.
The era: The Group Era — Leadership can be learned; leader–group relations. Not apart from the group but part of the group — any member can lead.
Leadership is behavior — consideration and initiating structure.
This theory sits in the The Group Era era of the map: Leadership can be learned; leader–group relations. Not apart from the group but part of the group — any member can lead.
Balance task focus (initiating structure) with people focus (consideration) — deliberately, not by temperament.
Treat leadership as behavior you can rehearse, not identity you must possess.