Situational Leadership

The situational leadership is constructed around the idea that employees move

forward and backward along the developmental continuum, which represents the

relative competence and commitment of subordinates. For leaders to be effective, it is

important that they determine where subordinates are on the developmental

continuum and adapt their leadership styles so that they directly match their style to

that development level.

Situational leadership stresses that leadership is composed of both a directive and

supportive dimension, and that each has to be applied appropriately in a given

situation

i) What are the characteristics of the four categories of directive and supportive

behaviors?

ii) Discuss the strengths and the criticisms of the situational approach in leadership.