Situational Leadership Theory
Christa Hackett
MGT 601
Dr. Hamilton
June 29, 2015
Leadership is the process in which a group of people or an organization is lead and is influenced to make goals and reach them. According to Plunkett, Allen, & Attner, (2013), There are three factors in leadership, one being the leader, two those being led and three situations and conditions one may be up against. Effective leadership is depended upon numerous variables, such as leadership style, traits, skills, resolving conflicts, and motivating team members. There was a leadership theory developed in the late 1960s by Paul Heresy and Ken Blanchard it was called the life cycle theory of leadership, this theory has gained momentum amongst leaders in organizational management position, Northouse, (2004). Situational leadership theory is the model name and this theory concentrates the way a leader befits his/her leadership approach.
The most important responsibility of a situational leader is to tailor his/her leadership style to accommodate the members of the team’s needs. According to Hershey and Blanchard (1993) leadership tasks are dissimilar and all tasks need a different leadership style. An effective leader is able to adjust his leadership to the intended objectives needed to be attained. Successful leadership is based on a manager’s ability to set goals, education, responsibility and expertise. Leadership style is not only vital in becoming a successful leader, but his/her capability or wisdom of those persons being led is a crucial element as well. Although there has been numerous leadership theories developed, but there has been no sole way to leadership that has been recognized as the prime practice for every circumstance. The principles of leadership, inspiring and guiding a group to attain common objectives has not changed much, but leadership as a whole has evolved tremendously over the last few years in organizations. Situational leadership is relevant at each the micro and macro scales. Leadership is contingent and the situational leadership theory is enduring because it is suitable for easy or complicated duties, and it is pertinent to the transformation capabilities of all involved as they advance as a whole toward their objectives. Being able to conform to his/her leadership style is also a main function of a situational leader. According to Silverthorne & Wang (2001), in conforming to his/her leadership style a situational leader fulfils the group’s needs for various duties and encouragement on a personal level based on the person’s willingness to finish a specific task. This involves precisely identifying the expertise and level of willingness of one single person or the group, and dictating task that properly corresponds with the individual’s capability and dedication to finish the assigned task.
According to Hersey and Blanchard, (1993), the situational leadership theory is a very vital fragment in any organizational setting and many effective leaders are the ones who can lead using divergent leadership styles in reply to the desires of the conditions and the varying levels of maturity of the individuals or groups working for them. Being flexible in leadership style is a must if an elevation of leadership effectiveness is an aspiration and a demand by the circumstance. Different circumstances will or will not require different style of leadership, it is up to the leader to determine which leadership style is suitable according to the task at hand.
The situational leadership theory is useful and relevant in developing an effective leadership culture because in today’s society leaders should have a way to handle, govern, and rectify differences that may come up in an organization in order to construct an organization that is definitely effective. Situational leadership is an important concept in an organization because leaders are the ones that makes and keeps things happening within an organization. Lack or
