Situational leadership - Hersey and Blanchard

Abstract

The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership is a theory designed to help leaders finding the most effective leadership style from different circumstances they find themselves in. The theory was developed by author Paul Hersey and leadership expert Ken Blanchard, first introduced in late 1960s as Life Cycle Theory of Leadership but renamed in the mid-1970 as Situational Leadership Model [1]. The theory was inspired by the changing leadership needed by parents as a child grows up from infancy to adulthood. An infant needs a different leadership style than as a young adult, so Hersey and Blanchard felt as the same logic held true for managing new, developing and experienced workers. [1]

In 1980s Blanchard made a number of changes to the original model which is now called Situational Leadership II or SLII. [heimild minute manager, Blanchard]. This article will focus on this new and improved Situational Leadership model, the SLII. SLII contains a flexible style, whereas the manager adapts their management style to situational factors in the workplace. By understanding, recognizing, and adapting to these situational factors, the leaders will be able to influence their surroundings and followers much more successfully than if these factors are ignored. [2] The fundamental foundation of the theory is that there is no single best style of leadership and the most effective leadership varies on the project and the employees working on the project.[2]

SLII proposes that there are four primary leadership styles that are suitable for four different followers’ directive behavior, often called the four development levels. The leadership styles are Directing, Coaching, Supporting and Delegating. SLII helps the leader answer the questions on what the right form of leadership for this person is, in a specific context. The context is the task, and a task can be defined as a project from a project management perspective. Further on, this article will relate the SLII to project managers and why this technique is effective and important in project management.

Application

Style 1 - Directing

directing

Style 2 - Coaching

Style 3 - Supporting

Style 4 - Delegating

Limitations & Reflections

Limitations

References

Blanchard, K., Zigarmi, D., Nelson, R. (1993). Situational Leadership after 25 Years: A Retrospective. 1(1), 22-28. https://www.academia.edu/3431281/Situational_Leadership_After_25_Years_A_Retrospective

Situational Leadership. (2016). Retrieved 21 February 2021, from https://www.projectmanagement.com/contentPages/wiki.cfm?ID=293293&thisPageURL=/wikis/293293/Situational-Leadership#_=_