Situational Leadership
Leadership Approach Jason Remington LDR/531 October 26, 2012 Mike Kraynik
Situational Leadership Situational leadership is an adaptive form of management introduced by Kenneth Blanchard and Paul Hershey in 1969 (Schlosser, 2012). This specific leadership style requires managers to analyze scenarios and evaluate the skill level and emotional maturity of the followers involved. Based on the outcome of this analysis a leader selects one of the following technics; telling and directing, selling and coaching, participating and supporting or delegating. The telling and directing technique requires a leader to define the tasks and closely supervise the completion. The technique is beneficial for inexperienced employees. Selling and coaching incorporates additional communication between the leader and follower. While the leader still delegates and make decisions the follower will incorporate feedback; resulting in a more interactive relationship. This behavior is most beneficial for employees with experience that still require some guidance (Dems, 2010). A participating and supporting technique requires a leader to allocate tasks and still provide input on decisions. The follower has the flexibility to determine how to complete the tasks and can make some daily decisions. This style is best for experienced followers who require motivation to become capable of completing the job (Schlosser, 2012). The delegating leadership style becomes most effective with experienced and motivated followers. This style allows the follower to allocate tasks and determine the best process for completion. While a large portion of control is transferred to the follower the leader still maintains the final decision-making power and establishes
Situational Leadership Situational leadership is an adaptive form of management introduced by Kenneth Blanchard and Paul Hershey in 1969 (Schlosser, 2012). This specific leadership style requires managers to analyze scenarios and evaluate the skill level and emotional maturity of the followers involved. Based on the outcome of this analysis a leader selects one of the following technics; telling and directing, selling and coaching, participating and supporting or delegating. The telling and directing technique requires a leader to define the tasks and closely supervise the completion. The technique is beneficial for inexperienced employees. Selling and coaching incorporates additional communication between the leader and follower. While the leader still delegates and make decisions the follower will incorporate feedback; resulting in a more interactive relationship. This behavior is most beneficial for employees with experience that still require some guidance (Dems, 2010). A participating and supporting technique requires a leader to allocate tasks and still provide input on decisions. The follower has the flexibility to determine how to complete the tasks and can make some daily decisions. This style is best for experienced followers who require motivation to become capable of completing the job (Schlosser, 2012). The delegating leadership style becomes most effective with experienced and motivated followers. This style allows the follower to allocate tasks and determine the best process for completion. While a large portion of control is transferred to the follower the leader still maintains the final decision-making power and establishes
References: Dems, Kristina (2010). A Look at the Situational Leadership Model. Retrieved from Bright hub website: http://www.brighthub.com/office/home/articles/83323.aspx Measom, Cynthia (2012). Trait vs. Situational Approach for Leadership. Retrieved from Small Business by Demand Media website: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/trait-vs-situational-approach-leadership-38796.html Schlosser, Joe (2012). Situational Leadership. Retrieved from Slide Share website: http://www.slideshare.net/joeschlosser/Situational-Leadership Sharlow, Bill (2004). Situational Leadership. Retrieved from Money-Zine website: http://www.money-zine.com/Career-Development/Leadership-Skill/Situational-Leadership/