What Can We Learn from Trait Theories and Charismatic Transformational Leadership?: A Note to Develop Personal Carrier Strategies

This study examines how personal strategies for career advancement and
leadership skills can be developed by drawing a red line from the trait theories of
leadership and charismatic-transformational leadership. Shackleton�s experience
will provide an important example and reinforce those two theories which
suggest that no leadership theories can be applied in isolation and that directly or
indirectly, those theories will be manifested in a successful leader. Some
challenges to the future leadership are examined in order to develop some
personal career strategies that may be applicable for future careers. Five strategies
(personal vision, personal development, mentoring, team building, and learning
and change) of future leadership career are finally suggested. The first two
strategies deal with the development of personal leadership started by setting a
personal mission which inspires the development of personal leadership qualities.
The next two strategies, mentoring and team-building are intended to incorporate
the personal leadership into an organisational setting and make the leadership
meaningful for other people. Finally, it can be inferred that those four strategies
are not sufficient in a turbulent and dynamic environment and thus the last
strategy is required to enhance the leaders� ability to stimulate learning and
change in the organisation.