How to Introduce Situational Leadership

The basic premise of situational leadership is that effective leadership occurs by matching the appropriate leadership style to the appropriate task. Teaching situational leadership can often be difficult due to the complexities of applying situational leadership theories to actual situations. Leaders that practice the situational leadership theory develop their ability to adapt over time through many years of practice and field research. When teaching situational leadership, a great way to introduce the concept is to give learners practice situations and ask them to apply what they know to determine the proper leadership response.

Instructions

Teach Situational Leadership Concepts

1. Explain to students the general premise of the situational leadership theory. Tell students about the theory that effective leadership can be different based on the situation the leader must deal with. Explain the idea that commitment and competence are the two different factors that determine what style of leadership to use with a follower.

2. Provide a handout on the differing levels of maturity of a follower. Explain how a follower can be one of four developmental types: low competence with low commitment, high competence with low commitment, low competence with high commitment, or high competence with high commitment. Give specific instances of each development type and where you might find it in a leadership situation.

3. Pass out a handout on the four different styles of situational leadership. Explain the four different leadership types: telling, selling, participating, and delegating. Provide specific details about how to use each style of situational leadership. Relate each style of situational leadership back to when you should use it based on the maturity level of the follower.

Practice Applying Situational Leadership Concepts

1. Create a handout by typing 6 or 7 different scenarios when situational leadership could be used. Make sure to provide details on the developmental level of the follower (whether he or she has issues with commitment or competence), and what the specific task is that the leader wants the follower to do. Ask the question "which situational leadership style should the leader use?" at the end of each scenario. Save your handout and print enough copies for the group you are introducing to situational leadership.

2. Ask students to answer the questions on the handout by reading through each scenario and picking the appropriate response based on what they've learned. Encourage the students to use the handouts on situational leadership styles and developmental levels of followers to make their decisions. Allow participants to work in pairs or small groups to complete the handout. Be sure to allot enough time for the group to complete the entire handout.

3. Discuss the answers to the handout as a class. Go through each scenario one by one and read it aloud. Pick an individual or group to share their answer. Ask them to explain their answer by referencing the handouts to justify their decision. Ask other individuals or groups if they agree or if they had a different answer. Ask anyone of differing opinion to explain their answer.

References

• National Service Resources: Situational Leadership
• Changing Minds: Hersey and Blanchard's Situational Leadership