There are several ways to lead effectively. The situational leader believes that no single leadership style will help them achieve their common goals. Instead, they adopt all styles and incorporate them as they see fit depending on each situation. “The situational approach demands that a leader match his/her style to the competence and commitment of the followers” (Hamel, 2021). The situational leader is flexible and adapts his approach in accordance with the needs of his followers. Northouse (2019) described situational leadership as being “composed of both a directive and supportive dimension and that each has to be applied appropriately in a given situation”.
There will be individual differences among each group of followers. For example, in a team, there might be people coming from all over the world to join together in this group and strive to achieve optimal performance. Since the group of followers is so diverse; meaning that they will probably have different techniques on how to do certain tasks, different communication strategies, different motivations, cultural beliefs, and so on. The list will be endless on all the unique differences each of them custom on a daily basis. All these factors will contribute to a team’s ability to get the job done. Each of your teammates will also have different values and motivations into why they are doing what they are doing. How can a leader navigate such a rich landscape of diversity?
Let me ask you a question, would you treat a highly determined and enthusiastic teammate the same as you would treat a lazy teammate with no intrinsic motivation? I will guess that your answer is no. Your enthusiastic teammate would presumably not need nearly as much hand-holding as your lazy teammate would. Although your high achiever might need some feedback once in a while, they might not need the leader’s attention all the time. If you would start to ”babysit” them and order them around, telling them what to do, they would potentially feel a lack of autonomy and eventually withdraw (the reaction to a disturbance in one’s environment will be different for everyone, this is just an example). As far as the lazy teammate of yours, without a sense of direction, he might go off on his own and break team rules. For him, the word structure would probably fit best, in order to realize his potential.
Why is adopting no style, the best style then? The example mentioned above is two different leadership styles applied to two different people. Each of them needing another style to perform at their best. Ideally one could hope that there would be one single coach available for every player on the team, although that would arise other challenges eventually. Most groups do not have access to those resources. With that said, the most effective way to reach a diverse number of individuals will be to develop a situational leader. A leader who could be both warm and direct, both supportive and demanding. A leader who can adjust appropriately in any given situation (Northouse, 2019). This way, one leader will simply reach more individuals.
In conclusion, being a situational leader will only be beneficial. It will require a tremendous amount of self-awareness and readiness but it could be done. In order to strive for optimal performance, a leader’s job is literally to bring out the best in people. Knowing that a group of followers include a diversity of individuals with their own beliefs and ways on how to do things, it is absolutely essential for a leader to be able to adjust to what each specific individual need.
References:
Hamel, R. (2021). Lesson 5: Style and Situational Approaches.
Northouse, P .G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications