What is Leadership?

Leadership the process through which leaders exert

influence on other group members.

Leader a person who can influence others to be more
effective in working to achieve their mutual goals and
maintain effective working relationships among members.

Leadership skills sum total of your ability to help the
group achieve its goals and maintain an effective working
relationship among members.

Blanchards Situational Leadership Theory




One of the most widely practiced leadership model.

It has been used as a major training device by many
corporations including BankAmerica, Caterpillar, IBM, Mobil
Oil, Xerox, and the military.

The theory focuses on followers maturity.

Maturity-- the ability and willingness of people to take
responsibility for directing their own behavior.





Heresy and Blanchard feel that the leader has to match his
leadership style according to the needs of maturity of
subordinates which moves in stage and has a cycle.
Therefore, this theory is also known as life-cycle theory of
leadership.

There are two basic considerations in this model:

leadership styles and
maturity of subordinates.

Levels of Maturity (Readiness)

M1. People are both unable and unwilling to take
responsibility to do something. They are neither
competent nor confident.

M2. People are unable but willing to do the necessary job
tasks. They are motivated but currently lack the
appropriate skills.

M3. People are able but unwilling to do what the leader
wants.

M4. People are both able and willing to do what is asked
of them.
Leadership Styles

The theory prescribes a different leadership style
for different levels of maturity:

Telling--tells people what, how, when, and
where
Selling-- provides both direction and supportive
behavior
Participating--the main role of the leader is
facilitating and communicating, decision making is
shared.

Delegating--the leader provides little direction and
support



Blanchards Adjusting Leadership style

Low followers Maturity telling i.e. neither they have
ability nor they are willing to do (high task direction and
low support)

Moderate followers maturity selling i.e. have high
willingness but lack maturity (task direction & support)

Moderate to high maturity participating i.e. ability to
do but lack willingness (supportive behavior and a little
direction)

High maturity- delegatingi.e. they have both ability &
willingness to work (little support and direction)