MSLD 511 Reflection Blog: Assignment Prompt
“Blanchard (2008) includes a leader’s directive and supportive behaviors as the foundation of his situational leadership theory. Directive behavior typically represents a one-way communication where the leader directs the activity that the follower will complete. Supportive behaviors are considered two-way where the responses exhibit emotional and social support and the follower participates with the leader in the discussion. Consider some of your roles (parent, child, friend, leader, follower, etc.) and provide examples of how you use supportive and directive behaviors.”
Leaders interact with a variety of people as their followers and ever-changing situations require them to adapt: how they lead; the decisions they make about and for their followers; and their thoughts for each situation according to who is being led. In some situations, one-way communication that provides directions for the follower is most effective. One-way communication by leaders that directs followers is called directive behavior (Blanchard, 2008). Two-way communication that involves listening to the follower while providing emotional and social support is called supportive behavior (Blanchard, 2008). There are times for both types of behaviors and each type of behavior is useful with different types of followers. How we behave in our roles with other people morphs from one person and situation to the next on a daily basis. I behave differently with my child than I do with my supervisor or my friends, as each relationship is different and the situations I’m in with each individual require different behaviors. These behaviors could change as the individual follower changes, for example through growth or more experience in their role.
As an illustration of this, when I was a parent of a small child, I used more directive behaviors because my child had almost no experience about life and could not live on his own. Situations that demanded safety caused me to make decisions that were non-negotiable. I used one-way communication that instructed my child how to behave when it came to touching a hot stove top, running into traffic to chase a ball, or sticking a fork into an electrical outlet. As my child grew older and knew more, there became a more balanced approach with some situations requiring me to direct him and other times we might need to discuss things. He might need me to provide emotional and social support as well. Now that he is my adult child, my parenting is almost all supportive with directive behaviors being very low and mostly in the form of advice. My leadership role as his parent changed as he changed and matured, and as situations in our lives changed.
“Each leader, follower, and situation is unique.”
In situational leadership, the first step is to assess the situation and determine what types of leadership behaviors are needed (Northouse, 2018). Some situations require more directive and less supportive behaviors, while others are just the opposite. For example, if my supervisor has three employees at different stages of experience in their work, the three employees will need different levels and types of leadership. I’m in a support role on our team and I’m one of the newest members. Because of this, I might need more directive and less supportive behaviors. As I develop more experience, leadership would shift to alternative behaviors according to the new situation and my more advanced level of experience (Northouse, 2018).
In a relationship with one of my friends, I think my role is somewhat like Northouse (2018) describes as high supportive-low directive behaviors (p. 97). This is because our friendship is not based on accomplishing goals. I listen, praise, and give feedback about the things she wants to discuss. There are times I offer some direction, but always in the form of advice, never with a directive. It’s advice about something she’s struggling with — the best path to take, the right way to handle a situation, or other type of guidance. I listen to what’s on her mind in relation to the areas she seeks guidance, or in relation to the guidance I provide. And I support her as she makes decisions.
Situational leadership allows for leadership behaviors to be adjusted according to the needs of leaders and followers at any given time, providing flexibility. The situational approach recognizes that each leader, follower, and situation is unique and allows for a unique plan to be executed that most benefits the needs of an organization (Northouse, 2018).
Cynde Puckett | MSLD 511 | Dr. Douglas | April 11, 2021 | Reflection Blog Assignment
References
Blanchard, K. (2008). Situational leadership. Leadership Excellence, 25(5), 19. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/trade-journals/situational-leadership/docview/204622182/se-2?accountid=27203
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and Practice 8th ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publishing.
Cynde Puckett-Valenti 