Leadership Theories at Cavi
Although some of the leaders at Cavi vary quite a bit in their leadership styles, one thing that is noticeable is that they all share a number of similar traits. This made me think about trait theory and if I may actually be witnessing this theory at Cavi. Before I discuss my conclusion on the matter of whether or not I believe trait theory is at play here, let me provide some evidence as to why I noticed this in the first place.
One thing that is apparent when talking to and working with the various leaders at Cavi is almost all of them tend to be extroverted. They are people that like working and talking to others, and thrive off the energy of being around others. While there are certainly people at the company that are extroverted and are not in leadership positions, it doesn’t disqualify the fact that almost all of our leaders are extroverted.
Another common feature of the leaders I’ve worked with at Cavi is they all have been quite charismatic. While of course they vary on their level of charisma, they all tend to have some level of charisma. They are all very good speakers who are able to display their intellect and knowledge to the workers at Cavi. This makes them quite persuasive speakers and quite skilled socially. This has allowed the leaders at Cavi to shape both the work and social cultures at the company.
There are certainly a number of other examples of traits that I feel the leaders share, I have come to a conclusion as to whether or not I think trait theory may be at play. I believe that trait theory is at play at Cavi and the leaders at Cavi were more likely to emerge as leaders due to their traits. While I don’t necessarily believe that these traits are bound to make them better leaders, I do think it helped them emerge as a leader at the company.
So in saying that trait theory may be at play at Cavi, you mean that within the organization it seems that there is an emphasis on particular traits (extroversion, charisma, etc.) and that those who possess these qualities seem more likely to ascend to leadership roles? If this is indeed the hypothesis, then it seems as though some individuals may not have the opportunity to rise to formal leadership positions within the organization because they lack some of these valued traits/characteristics, right? Question, is there an emphasis at Cavi to develop its employees; is additional training and professional development offered? I ask because typically, those that subscribe to trait theory tend to operate as though the desirable traits are inherent and not something that can be grown/developed. Would be interesting to explore that notion depending on the organization’s disposition and commitment to professional development.