Bridge to the Future Blog
What is situational leadership?
26/10/11
Kenneth Blanchard and Paul Hersey’s situational leadership model tells us that managers could use different leadership styles depending on the situation.
It allows you to analyse the situation that you’re in and then use the leadership style that is most appropriate. Also, your style changes depending on the competences and commitment levels of your staff and so from person to person. You might lead the same person in one way in one situation and another way in a different situation.
The pair characterised leadership style in terms of the amount of direction and support that the leader gives to their followers and so created a simple matrix:
Effective leaders are versatile – they are able to move around the matrix in accordance with the situation. No leadership style is right all of the time. However, leaders tend to have a preferred style and in applying situational leadership it is important to know which one is right for you.
Similarly, the competence and commitment of the follower can also be distinguished in four quadrants:
As with the leadership styles, the levels of development are also situational. For example, a personal could be very skilled and motivated in one part of their job but less competent in another.
Blanchard and Hersey said that the leadership style must correspond to the development level of the follower – it is the leader who should adapt. By adopting the correct style to suit the follower’s development level; relationships will be built, work will get done and the level of the follower will subsequently increase.
There are six steps taken in the process of situational leadership:
- Make an overview of each employee’s tasks
- Assess the employee on each task
- Decide on the management style for each task
- Discuss the situation with the employee
- Make a plan together
- Follow up, check and correct
A problem incurred not just by Blanchard and Hersey but by other leadership models too is the failure to distinguish between leadership and management. As so often is the case, what is referred to as a leadership style is, in reality, a management one. It also assumes leadership’s primary function to be decision making rather than inspiring people to change direction – leaders may vary how they inspire others but only when they have already chosen to do so themselves. Another criticism of this model is its focus on the actions of the person in charge.
This model also makes a number of assumptions:
- Leaders should adapt their style to the ‘maturity’ of their followers and their competence and motivation
- There are four leadership styles that match the four combinations of high/low readiness and willingness
- The four styles suggest that leaders should put greater or less focus on the task in question and/or the relationship between the leader and the follower
- Presumes that leadership is about how the boss makes decisions
You can download the Hersey and Blanchard Situational Leadership Model graphic
Myrt Bradley MSc, BSc, Cert.Ed. FIfL
Centre for Leadership and Management
