The path-goal theory is how leaders are able to motivate their followers to accomplish their set goals (Northouse, 2016). The path-goal theory focuses on the way a leader works as well as how the group functions. The better a leader is, the better the followers. The leader in this type of theory benefits best when it looks at how the followers are motivated. The leader should provide the followers with the items they need to succeed (Northouse, 2016). Ideally, the leader should give the group the tools they will need to do well, and to meet the goal. Without this, the group may suffer, as they will lack the proper guidance from the leader. The path-goal leadership theory has a leader whose style is specific to the situation and the followers needs; the leader and the followers can clearly define the goals of the group, clarify the appropriate path to take for the task, remove the road blocks, and provide support (Northouse, 2016). The most important part of this theory, in my opinion, is that the group will work well and be motivated to meet their goals, if they believe they can achieve them (Northouse, 2016). Basically, if a leader builds their followers up well enough, then everyone will do well.
I think the path-goal theory should be applied to every day life and everyday leadership situations. Thus far, I believe the path-goal theory is the best leadership theory discussed. Before beginning Penn State, I attended culinary school in Philadelphia. We had quite a few professors who were also excellent bakers as well. Since I was a pastry arts major with very little field experience, I needed all the help I could get when I began. One of my professors was an excellent teacher and thus an excellent leader. He would begin each class with all of us standing around him, where he would speak about what he expected of us for the next 4 hours. He would give each of us a list of what needed to be done, and how he thought was the best way to do it. For example, we would have class 6am to 11am, and in that time we would be required to bake enough goodies that we could open the bakeshop for the public. So my professor would give us the list that would usually have about 20-25 things on it, varying in difficulty from baking cookies, to icing an entire sheet cake for a birthday. If we doubted how well we could do something, my professor was right there beside us, motivating us and believing in us. He always was a breath of positivity. We never thought we could fail, because we knew he was there to help any of us whenever we had an obstacle. His leadership style always changed based on the day and how much we needed him. Often times, even though he was there to help with obstacles, he would allow us to fail, so we could learn from our mistakes.
“Great leaders know how to compensate for a skill they don’t have by going outside the team to get it” (Elliott, 2017). When my professor had questions about something we were doing or could’t figure out a challenge, he would go to a higher up; our lead chef. This is another thing that made him a great leader. He was able to admit he needed help sometimes, and would go to someone else to compensate for the skills he did not have. This made him a better leader, since he was constantly learning how to better himself to pass it down to us.
“During the action phase, it’s important to assign the right tasks to the right people. Those who have strengths and desire in a certain area should be given those areas of action” (Elliott, 2017). Our chef would do exactly that. He knew that some of us were just naturally better at baking cookies or icing cakes; therefore he would assign those items accordingly. He was a great leader because he knew how to take our strengths and use them to the groups advantage to make us a better group as a whole.
References:
Northouse, P. G. (2016).Path-Goal Theory. Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Elliott, C. (2017, June 27). The Leadership Secrets of Cookie Baking. Retrieved from https://aboutleaders.com/the-leadership-secrets-of-cookie-baking/#gs.fF1dRlk