Trait Based Leadership Theory: Pros & Cons

The trait based leadership theory argues that individuals are ‘born’ with attributes that will make them more effective, and thus more successful, leaders then those individuals that do not have these attributes…

But how many leaders are ACTUALLY BORN with the traits that make them stand out from the crowd?

Was Steve Jobs born with the education and knowledge to lead Apple to their worldwide success?  Was Walt Disney born with the imagination, innovation and passion to inspire millions of people for decade after decade?  Was Martin Luther King, Jr. born with the tenacity and charisma to change our country forever? 

Below I've listed some pros and cons on the trait based leadership theory to help one think about these questions:

PROS

1.  As Stephen J. Zaccaro argues, some traits are more cross-situational than others.  These particular traits, known as distal attributes, are more likely to act as a precursor to the development of skills and knowledge.  These traits consist of personality, cognitive abilities and motives values.  I think that one must have the personality, along with the ability and ambition to learn, which can lead to the acquisition of other traits.

2.  The distal attributes provide a foundation for the emergence and growth of the proximal attributes, like problem-solving skills and social skills.  I do believe that the foundation of specific distal attributes is necessary to further develop and learn the proximal attributes through experience.

CONS

1. Is it possible to truly define a leader based on their traits?  Sure, certain traits may usually influence certain behaviors consistent with effective leaders, but is it possible to say this is ALWAYS the case? 

2.  Experience can alter traits, so an individual may not be ready to be a leader today, but after five years experience they could be the best leader their company has ever seen.

3.  The situation an individual is in must be considered because persons who succeed as a leader in one situation may fail in another and vice versa, but this theory does not really address that specifically. 

4.  Limitation & Discouragement: An individual who has great leadership potential could be discouraged from following their instinct of becoming a leader simply because they don’t have a certain trait.

So, are traits enough to base a whole leadership theory on… Or do they just influence leadership performance?