Path-Goal Theory

Question 1

Path-Goal Theory

Answer 1

-Leaders adapt their behaviors based on their followers’ characteristics and the characteristics of the task
-Centers on how leaders motivate followers to accomplish designated goals
-Emphasizes the relationship between: the leader’s style, the characteristics of followers, the work setting

Question 2

What is the goal of path-goal theory?

Answer 2

To enhance employee performance and satisfaction by focusing on employee motivation

Question 3

Motivation principle (based on Expectancy Theory)

Answer 3

Followers will be motivated if they believe:
1. They are capable of performing the work
2. That their efforts will result in a certain outcome
3. That the payoffs for doing their work are worthwhile

Question 4

Expectancy Theory

Answer 4

-Originates from psychology
-Motivation to do a behavior stems from the desirability of the outcome of that behavior
-Individuals make choices about their behaviors based on expected results

Question 5

What are some challenged for the leader when it comes to path goal theory?

Answer 5

-Need to use a leadership style that best meets followers’ motivational needs
-Choose behaviors that complement or supplement what is missing in the work setting
-Enhance goal attainment by providing information or rewards
-Provide followers with the elements they need to reach their goals

Question 6

Leadership generates motivation when… (Conditions of leadership motivation)

Answer 6

-It increases the number and kinds of payoffs followers receive from their work
-Makes the path to the goal clear and easy to achieve with coaching and direction
-Removes obstacles and roadblocks to attaining the goal
-Makes the work itself more personally satisfying

Question 7

Path-Goal Leadership

Answer 7

-Defines goals
-Clarifies path
-Removes obstacles
-Provides support

Question 8

What are the leadership behaviors selected to be part of path-goal theory?

Answer 8

-Directive
-Supportive
-Participative
-Achievement oriented

Question 9

Directive leadership

Answer 9

-Leader provides clear instructions about their task, including expectations, how it is to be done, a timeline for when it should be completed, and clear standards for performance
-Similar to the “initiating structure” concept described in the Ohio State studies and the “telling” style in Situational Leadership

Question 10

Supportive leadership

Answer 10

-Leader who is friendly and approachable
-Includes attending to the well-being and human needs of followers
-treats followers as equals and give them respect for their status
-resembles the consideration behavior construct that was identified in Ohio State studies

Question 11

Participative leadership

Answer 11

-Consists of inviting followers to share in the decision making
-Consults with followers, obtains their ideas and opinions, and integrates their suggestions into decisions

Question 12

Achievement-Oriented Leadership

Answer 12

-Leader who challenges followers to perform work at the highest level possible
-Establishes a high standard of excellence for followers and seeks continuous improvement
-High degree of confidence in followers’ capability of establishing and accomplishing challenging goals

Question 13

True or false: Path-Goal theory is a trait approach that locks leaders into only one kind of leadership

Answer 13

-False!
-Leaders should adapt their styles to the situation or the motivational needs of their followers
-There may also be instances when it is appropriate for a leader to use more than one style at the same time

Question 14

Follower Characteristics: What matters about the people?

Answer 14

-Follower characteristics determine how a leader’s behavior is interpreted by followers in a given work context
-Need for affiliation, preference for structure, desires for control, and self perceived level of task ability

Question 15

Followers who have strong needs for affiliation prefer…

Answer 15

Supportive leadership because friendly and concerned leadership is a source of satisfaction

Question 16

Followers desires for control: Internal and external locus of control

Answer 16

-Followers with an internal locus of control believe they are in charge of the events that occur in their life
-Followers with an external locus of control believe that chance, fate, or outside forces determine life events

Question 17

Followers with an internal locus of control prefer..

Answer 17

Participative leadership
-It is the most satisfying because it allows them to feel in charge of their work and to be an integral part of decision making

Question 18

Followers with an external locus of control prefer..

Answer 18

Directive leadership
-Parallels followers’ feelings that outside forces control their circumstances

Question 19

As followers perceptions of their abilities and competence goes up..

Answer 19

-The need for directive leadership goes down
-Directive leadership becomes redundancy and excessively controlling when followers feel competent to complete their own work

Question 20

Task characteristics (What matters about the task?): Task situations requiring leader involvement

Answer 20

1. Unclear and ambiguous: leader needs to provide structure
2. Highly repetitive: leaders needs to provide support to maintain follower motivation
3. Weak formal authority system: leader needs to assist followers by making rules and work requirements clear
4. Nonsupportive/weak group norms: leader needs to help build cohesiveness and role responsibility

Question 21

What are obstacles?

Answer 21

-Anything in the work setting that gets in the way of followers
-They create excessive uncertainties, frustrations, or threats for followers

Question 22

Task characteristics (What matters about the task?): Obstacles

Answer 22

-Leader’s responsibility is to help followers by: removing the obstacles and helping followers around them
-Assisting with obstacles will increase: followers’ expectations to complete the task and their sense of job satisfaction

Question 23

How does the Path-Goal Theory work?

Answer 23

-The leader’s job is to help followers reach their goals by directing, guiding, and coaching them along the way
-Leaders must evaluate task and follower characteristics and adapt leadership style to these
-The theory suggests which style is most appropriate for specific characteristics

Question 24

House’s Path-Goal Theory: Leaders can increase motivation by..

Answer 24

1. reducing roadblocks that interfere with goal accomplishment
2. providing the guidance and support needs by employees
3. increasing meaningful rewards for goal accomplishment

Question 25

Strengths of Path-Goal Theory

Answer 25

-uses theoretical framework for understanding how various leadership behaviors affect the satisfaction of followers and their work performance
-Integrates the motivation principles of expectancy theory into a theory of leadership
-Provides a practice model that underscores and highlights the important ways leaders help followers

Question 26

Criticisms of Path-Goal Theory

Answer 26

-interpreting the meaning of the theory can be confusing because it is complex
-Difficult to implement
-Doesn’t account for gender differences in how leadership is enacted and perceived
-Assumes leaders possess the advance communication skills necessary to interact with followers in all given situations