Becoming an Effective Leader Through Situational Leadership

Becoming an Effective Leader

Through Situational Leadership

Every business needs leadership. Leadership is one of the ways that managers affect the

behavior of people in the business. Most successful managers are also successful leaders. They

get people to work to accomplish the organization's goals.

Being autocratic or democratic is the usual way of thinking about leadership. Autocratic

leaders depend on their authority and their power that comes from being an owner of the business

or occupying a high position. Democratic leaders depend on personal power, participative

problem solving and decision-making. Being only autocratic or democratic usually limits one's

effectiveness as a leader.

An alternative to being an autocratic or democratic leader is to be a situational leader.

Situational leaders are able to adapt their leadership style to fit their followers and situations in

which they are working. This says, for example, that the same employer of three people may use

very different actions in leading each of them.

Managers using situational leadership will make conscious choices between their use of

directive behavior and supportive behavior. In directive behavior, they are relying on providing

structure, control and close supervision for the people with whom they are working. In

supportive behavior, they are relying on praise, two-way communication, and facilitating the

work of their employees and co-workers.

Ken Blanchard1 sees four leadership styles growing out of combinations of supportive

and directive behavior: directing style, coaching style, supporting style and delegating style. In

the leading style, the emphasis is on control and close supervision of the worker. In the coaching

style, the leader provides more explanation of what the job entails and solicits suggestions while

still staying in control of the situation. With the supporting style, there is a team approach

between the leader and follower with the leader emphasizing...