Leadership

Situational leadership theory (SLT) focuses on the interaction of the leaderЎЇs behavior and follower readiness and then measures it to determine leader effectiveness. As defined in Answers.com, Situational leadership theories presume that different leadership styles are better in different situations, and that leaders must be flexible enough to adapt their style to the situation they are in. The most important example is Paul Hersey and Kenneth H. Blanchard's "life-cycle" theory, which posits that leadership style should depend on the "maturity", i.e. self motivation and initiative of subordinates. Relatively "immature" subordinates require autocratic leadership; subordinates intermediate in maturity do best with a more democratic approach, and very "mature" subordinates do not need any explicit leadership at all. A leaderЎЇs effectiveness is a function of the interrelationship between leader, follower, and situation. An effective leader selects an appropriate leadership style, while a leader who does not make the correct choice is ineffective. The SLT has a number of strengths. For example, it is straightforward, appealing, and easy to learn. Also, its focus on performance is primary, and it places the role of the situation in the center of all discussion. Additionally, it focuses on the dyad, a basic unit of human interaction, and emphasizes learning reinforcement skills, rather than ÐŽoreformingÐŽ± a leaderЎЇs personality. Despite these pluses, the theory is difficult to advocate (in textbooks and classrooms) without firmer evidence of its validity. Until this evidence can be produced, it is perhaps wise to remain, at best, uncommitted concerning its utility (and, at worst, highly suspicious).