Compare and contrast three different leadership theories????

I'm sure that your text materials will provide your best information. However, these websites may also help you.

http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/p/leadtheories.htm

http://www.money-zine.com/Career-Development/Leadership-Skill/Leadership-Theories/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership

Which three leadership theories are you discussing?

I searched Google under the key words "leadership theories" to get these possible sources:

http://www.members.cox.net/dagershaw/lol/Charisma.html
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/theories/leadership_theories.htm
http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/p/leadtheories.htm
http://www.money-zine.com/Career-Development/Leadership-Skill/Leadership-Theories/
http://www.ngcsu.edu/leadership/theory.htm

In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Also see http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/.

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.

To compare and contrast three different leadership theories, we first need to identify the theories and understand their key principles. Let's look at three popular leadership theories: trait theory, behavioral theory, and contingency theory.

1. Trait Theory:
- To understand this theory, we need to identify the traits and characteristics associated with effective leaders.
- Research suggests that leadership qualities such as confidence, honesty, intelligence, charisma, and determination are inherent traits that differentiate leaders from non-leaders.
- To compare and contrast with other theories, we need to evaluate the emphasis trait theory places on personal qualities as predictors of effective leadership.

2. Behavioral Theory:
- This theory focuses on the behavior of leaders, rather than their inherent qualities.
- The key idea is that leadership is not necessarily predetermined by traits, but rather, can be learned and developed through specific behaviors and actions.
- In this theory, leaders are seen as individuals who consistently demonstrate certain behaviors such as communication, motivation, decision-making, and problem-solving.
- To compare and contrast, we can highlight the emphasis on actions and behaviors rather than traits.

3. Contingency Theory:
- This theory suggests that effective leadership is contingent upon various factors, such as the situation, task, and the characteristics of the followers.
- It emphasizes that there is no one "best" style of leadership; instead, the most effective approach varies depending on the circumstances.
- This theory promotes adaptability, as leaders need to adjust their leadership style to match the specific needs of the situation or individuals.
- To compare and contrast, we can focus on the recognition of situational factors and the flexibility it requires from leaders.

By comparing these three theories, we can recognize that trait theory suggests that leadership is determined by personal characteristics, behavioral theory focuses on learned behaviors, and contingency theory emphasizes the importance of adapting to different situations. Each theory provides a unique perspective on leadership, and understanding these theories can assist in analyzing and understanding different leadership styles.