The Situational Leadership Model can provide managers with a blue print of managerial behaviors that should be followed in particular situations. In the essay below, situational leadership will be identified, along with the strengths and weaknesses of the situational model.
Situational leadership is an approach where leaders’ behavior may vary depending on a particular situation. When using situational leadership, managers use both directive and supportive behavior. The directive behavior deals with giving direction, where supportive behavior deals with providing a comfort level for employees. In the situational leadership model, both behaviors are broken down into four groups and ranked as levels. Directing, coaching, supporting, …show more content…
In the reading of Leadership, four strengths of the situational approach model were given. The chapter listed the following. First, the situational approach is a good standard for training leaders. Second, it is easily applies. Third, it gives a clear perception on how leaders should act to increase effectiveness. Fourth, the notion that leadership needs to be adaptive to situations. With the four strengths of the situational approach, some weaknesses were also identified by Northouse. First, there is lack of clarity of progression through development levels. Second, the lack of clarity on how employee commitment changes over time. Third, three is a lack of research due to variance of leadership style, and the differences in demographics of employees. Fourth, there was no clear connection with commitment and competence to form each of the development …show more content…
By constantly reviewing employees, and making adjustments on the perception commitment and competence of the employees, a manger would have to make serval situational adjustments. When using the Situational Leadership Theory, at some point a manger can become too evolved in the process and would have to take a step back. When a manger becomes too evolved in the process, this could reflect negatively on the employees.
The Situational Leadership Theory has some clear strengths and weaknesses. Taking in account that the model may be good for managerial training, this model would not be practical for everyday use by management. The use of the Situational Leadership Theory would not be considered effective time management, and this model hand-cuffs management’s natural decision making. To be an effective leader, a manager needs to develop situational management experience. The use of this model could be potential harmful to a mangers development by depending on a model opposed to experience development.
Northouse, Peter G. Leadership. Theory and Practice. Sage. Seventh Edition.