What is Situational
Leadership?
Situational leadership is an approach to
leadership which suggests that different leadership approaches are needed in
different contexts and at different times. Developed by Hersey and Blanchard in
1969, this theory argues that multiple leadership styles working in concert are
more effective than any one leadership style alone. This is a flexible model of
leadership that makes room for changing approaches to match employee
development level. It allows a leader to switch between directive and
supportive behavior, as well as merge the two to empower individuals and teams
to perform and grow personally and in business.(Anne Kinsey.,November 05,2018)
Important Situational
Factors
- Leaders
need to consider the relationship between the leaders and the members of
the group. Social and interpersonal factors can play a role in determining
which approach is best. For example, a group that lacks efficiency and
productivity might benefit from a style that emphasizes order, rules, and
clearly defined roles. A productive group of highly skilled workers, on
the other hand, might benefit from a more democratic style that allows
group members to work independently and have input in organizational
decisions.
- The
leader needs to consider the task itself. Tasks can range from simple to
complex, but the leader needs to have a clear idea of exactly what the
task entails in order to determine if it has been successfully and
competently accomplished.
- The
level of authority the leader has over group members should also be
considered. Some leaders have power conferred by the position itself, such
as the capacity to fire, hire, reward, or reprimand subordinates. Other
leaders gain power through their relationships with employees, often by
gaining respect from them, offering support to them, and helping them feel
included in decision making process.
- As
the Hersey-Blanchard model suggests, leaders need to consider the level of
maturity of each individual group member. The maturity level is a measure
of an individual's ability to complete a task, as well as his or her
willingness to complete the task. Assigning a job to a member who is
willing but lacks the ability is a recipe for failure.(Kendra Cherry.,September
29,2019)
CONCLUSION
The situational approach to leadership also avoids the pitfalls of the
single-style approach by recognizing that there are many different ways of
dealing with a problem and that leaders need to be able to assess a situation
and the maturity levels of subordinates in order to determine what approach will be the
most effective at any given moment.
REFERENCES
1.Anne Kinsey.,November 05,2018. Available at- https://bizfluent.com/about-6721035-definition-situational-leadership.html
2. Kendra Cherry.,September 29,2019. Available
at- https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-situational-theory-of-leadership-2795321
