situational leadership approach

Question 1

FEATURES OF THE SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP APPROACH

Answer 1

• Focuses on followers, rather than wider workplace circumstances
• Leaders should change their behavior according to type of followers and situation

Question 2

FEATURES: FOLLOWERS

Answer 2

• Classifying followers according to a 2x2 matrix

1. Low Competence/Low Confidence and commitment: directing leadership style
2. Low Competence/High Confidence and commitment: coaching
3. High Competence/Low Confidence and commitment: supporting
4. High Competence/High Confidence and commitment: delegating

Question 3

SL2 MODEL HERSEY AND BLANCHARD

Answer 3

2 Forms of Behavior

• Directive Behavior
>helps followers to achieve goals with one direction
>needs to communicate the goal, define timelines and methods on how to reach them

• Supportive Behavior
>2-way communication between leader and followers
>seeking for input, moderating, problem solving, praises people and listens

Question 4

HOW DOES THIS LEADERSHIP THEORY WORK?

Answer 4

Important task for leaders is to take the situation into consideration:

1. Determine the nature of the situation
2. Adapt style to situation

Question 5

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES OF SITUATIONAL APPROACH

Answer 5

Pro

1. Prescriptive Values - not only a description, gives you a tool box
2. Strong focus on leaders flexibility
3. Useful for leadership development trainings
4. High practicability

Contra

1. Demographic characteristics are not taken into account
2. Assumptions not justified by research
3. Ambiguous conceptualization of followers development levels