Question

One component of the situational leadership model focuses on leader behavior. Describe the four leadership styles Hersey and Blanchard identified that a supervisor would use based on the maturity of employees.

Answer 1

According to Hersey Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory, the four leadership styles are Telling, Selling, Participating and Delegating based on the combination of Task Behaviour and Relationship Behaviour.

The theory also describes four maturity levels of those being supervised, generally abbreviated as M1, M2, M3, M4.

M1 are the least experienced. So, they need some handholding and thus have to be given specific instructions. Telling is the leadership style that is most appropriate.

M2 are inexperienced people who possess slightly more knowledge and skill than those at the M1 level. Selling is the most appropriate leadership style of this maturity level.

M3 group belongs to those employees who are very excited to work on a job and have most of the skills needed to get the job done. Particpating leadership style is the most appropriate for this maturity level.

M4 is the top maturity level which has employees who have near perfect skills and knowledge to accomplish the tasks. Thus, delegating is the leadership style to be used for this maturity level.