The study of leadership had evolved through a series of schools of thought from Great man theories via the transformational theories to the modern day situational leadership theories. Situational leadership theories hods that there is no one best style of leadership but all depends with the situation in consideration. Harsey and Blanchard came up with the famous situational leadership theory.
The Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership model identifies four leadership styles namely participating, delegating, telling, and selling, with each representing a different combination of task-oriented and relationship-oriented behaviors.The Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership model suggests that successful leaders do adjust their styles. For Hersey and Blanchard the key issue in making these adjustments is follower maturity, as indicated by their readiness to perform in a given situation. “Readiness,” in this sense, is largely based on two major factors – follower ability and follower confidence. The situational leadership model views leaders as varying their emphasis on task and relationship behaviors to best deal with different levels of follower maturity.
Delegating Style involves allowing the group to take responsibility for task decision. Delegation involves the process where by managers assign their own tasks to subbodinates. This type of style is infuenced by a plethora of factors. Every situation calls for a different style of leadership. This is a low-task, low-relationship style.The style is used when the workers are well eidolons and they are eager to take extra responsibility.
Participative style put emphasis on shared ideas and participative decisions on task directions. This style is low-task oriented. It does put much emphasis on high relationship between employees and the employer. This style is applied or more effective under conditions of a highly skilled workforce. It is also applied in conditions when the task to be done is less complex...