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Situational Leadership Theory, What Every Effective Leader Knows...

Guest post by: Suzie Price

Article Overview: Leaders are more effective when they apply situational leadership theory and skills. What is this and why should you care? It is very simple AND very powerful AND it will make your leadership style more influential.

Situational Leadership Theory, What Every Effective Leader Knows...

Did you know that situational leadership theory shows up in every area of your life, every day?

To make my point, here are three conversations I have had in the past 24 hours:

1. My father complained, "I told her I wanted to go on a cruise. She said I'd have to go without her... What's wrong with her?" (Dad's talking about my mom, his wife of 49 years.)

2. My neighbor gloats about two of his college age kids and scorns the third, "Kenny and Michele are so focused. They're going to be great engineers, but Junior - he's just way too social. He's just not like the others. He sure can't handle engineering!" (My neighbor's been an engineer for 20 years.)

3. Successful Sales Manager Jim says about new employee Kim, "She's focusing too much on details; she needs to just get out there and meet people! What's wrong with her?" (Jim loves to network, that was his strategy for sales success.)

Each scenario represents people who are NOT using the power of situational leadership to create stronger more effective relationships with people they would like to positively influence, motivate and inspire. Each scenario represents the relevance of situational leadership in everyday life.

What is Situational Leadership Theory?

The name sounds complicated, but it's not. At the core it is honing your ability to adapt how you communicate with others. It's trying to understand the other person's point of view and then appreciating their view while at the same time, adapting how you work with, talk to and think about the other person to develop a more cohesive and effective relationship.

In the opening scenarios each person is communicating with the other person through their own eyes and their own preferences.

For example, my dad loves to do things on the spur of the moment. It energizes him; he's always been that way. My mom, she loves to plan, go at a steady pace and she resists change. She's always been that way.

How Could Situational Leadership Theory Help Improve Each Relationship?

By using the framework found in situational leadership theory, dad could finally grasp, understand and appreciate that my mom needs to take change and new ideas slowly. (You would think he would have figured it by now after 49 years, but that is just what most of us do - we expect others to want what we want.)

Mom would probably go on a cruise with him, but Dad will need to approach it more strategically. He should share his ideas and details about the cruise in small 'bites.' He could share some brochures with her. He could take her dinner with other couples who have had recently enjoyed a cruise. They could watch some travel shows together. And he could stop and really listen to her concerns.

In other words Dad needs to adapt his communication style and approach to meet Mom's needs. He needs to think about her preferences and how she makes decisions and communicate with her based on her needs, not just his own.



The same applies to my neighbor and his three kids. He's an engineer, so it is easy for him to appreciate and value the talents of his children who are most like him. He could use situational leadership theory to learn to understand, respect and appreciate his youngest son's social side. In the process he would learn more about himself and learn to value the diversity of his children and other people with other interests and talents.

Jim, the sales manager, could be a better manager of his new employee. who is more reserved in her style. by developing an understanding of situational leadership theory. He could begin to appreciate her strengths in planning and taking care of details. And she could learn from his social side. They could both grow and strengthen their sales approach by helping each other. Working together, even though they have different styles, is better then opposing each other as though they are on opposite sides, thinking each one has the 'better way.'

As you can see from these simple examples situational leadership theory comes into play in every communication and relationship. Are you using it to improve your leadership and your life, or are you ignoring it and expecting everyone to be like you?

Develop this skill-set and your leadership life will become brighter, happier and more influential.

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Article Tags: communication skills, leadership, situational leadership theory



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