Behavioural Overview

Behavioural Overview

Probably one of the better known supporters of the Behavioral Theories was Kurt Lewin during the 1930s. He described the behaviors of different leaders, identifying three different kinds of leaders:

• Autocratic

• Democratic

• Laissey-faire

According to Lewin, autocratic leaders made decisions solely on their own interpretation of what need to be done quickly. They made no reference to any other opinions. Lewin recognized different degrees of democratic leaders. In other words, some were more democratic than others. Unless the need for a decision was particularly pressing these leaders allowed input from colleagues, often weighing up the worth of others' opinions before making a final decision. Meanwhile, Lewin's interpretation of a laissez-faire leader was one who guided a team of colleagues but sat back and let them make their own decisions. This type of leader would be best described as a motivator or facilitator in modern terminology.

Where Lewin Meets Hersey-Blanchard

Failure to come to any conclusion regarding the personal characteristics of leaders led to the development of theories that focused on the situations surrounding the leader. One of the more popular theories belonging to this category was the Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory. Basically, this involves the mental capacity and maturity of the leadership team. This theory was developed by the author of the book ‘The Situational Leader' and the author of ‘The One-Minute Manager'. The former book was written by Dr Paul Hersey and the latter by Ken Blanchard. This gave rise to the name of this particularly theory: the Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership.

According to Hersey and Blanchard, a good leader ensures that the style of leadership is altered in accordance with the person being instructed. There is little point in giving instruction in language so far above the head of the person you are instructing if they are unable to understand what you...