Which approach describes how leaders act?

The behavioral approach focuses on the actions and behaviors of leaders rather than their personal attributes or traits. It emphasizes that effective leadership can be learned and developed through practice and experience. This perspective looks at how leaders communicate, make decisions, and interact with their team members. By studying the specific actions of leaders, this approach helps identify which behaviors contribute to effective leadership and how these behaviors can be modeled or taught to others.

In contrast, the cognitive approach emphasizes the mental processes involved in leadership, such as decision-making and problem-solving. Transformational leadership focuses on how leaders inspire and motivate their followers towards a shared vision and change. Situational leadership stresses that the effectiveness of leadership behaviors depends on the context or situation. While these approaches contribute valuable insights into leadership dynamics, it is the behavioral approach that most directly addresses the observable actions of leaders.