The situational leadership model focuses on a leader’s ability to adjust their tactics based on the situation or employee’s skill level and enthusiasm. This approach aims to benefit both the leader and employee and ensure success and satisfaction in the workplace.
The situational leadership model is one of several leadership theories developed by a variety of psychologists and researchers in the late 20th century. These templates are used in the business world to offer managers and other executives advice or techniques on the best way to lead their teams, or to show executives where they need to improve. The situational leadership model is one of the most often referenced models, because rather than focusing on any inherent leader trait or skill, it focuses on the leader’s ability to assess the situation and adjust his or her leadership tactics accordingly.
According to proponents of this theory, the ability to tailor leadership methods to each situation, or even each employee, is one of the best ways to develop an effective and productive workplace. There are a few different metrics often used with the situational leadership model, and these correlate to various skill levels of employees. Simply put, a manager in the situational leadership model is expected to adjust his or her leadership style based on the employee’s competence and enthusiasm for the job.
This idea is best illustrated with an example. To start, a new employee might have a very low level of competence for a job, but a high level of enthusiasm and commitment to getting it right. This leader will then provide a lot of specific guidance to the employee to help them learn. An individual with a high level of competence for the job and a low level of enthusiasm, in contrast, may need leadership more focused on relationship building. An employee with high levels of skill and enthusiasm may need only very limited direction and not have much leadership.
The purpose of the situational leadership model is to benefit both the leader and the employee equally and to enable both to get what they need out of the working relationship. There are many different and highly specific varieties of the situational leadership model for different business environments or specific task-oriented jobs, but these are the general principles. A manager’s ability to tailor their leadership or management style to each individual employee or situation, will help ensure that everyone is successful at their job and feels satisfied at the end of the day.
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