Adapting to Changes Situational Leadership - Essay Example

This model mainly dwells on the need for leaders to constantly understand the needs of their subordinates. To assess and develop a better understanding of an employee’s abilities and lead him/ her towards performing tasks effectively, it is paramount that communication is used. Thus, the situational leadership model enhances the levels of communication between the leader and the subjects hence increasing the levels of efficiency and productivity in the organization (Fernandez, Cho & Perry, 2010).

WeaknessesPressureMost leaders under the situational leadership model are often under constant pressure to analyze their situations prior to making decisions on any action. Other leadership styles emphasizing on leaders following their strengths and innate traits often present more instinctive reactions to problems. Other prominent situational leadership models propose that leaders ought to constantly establish the manner in which their actions offer immediate and long-term motivation to the employees.

The major challenge to this question is that each response varies depending on the follower and the situation.Limited flexibilityDespite the effectiveness of the situational theories, they are always criticized for their rigidity. The models suggest that the best leadership style is often dependent on the situations presented. For instance, the fielder model of situational leadership assumes that a manager needs to be placed in the exact situation for him effectively to apply his style of leadership.

This limits the application of the situational leadership model hence may not be applicable in other areas.One of the most celebrated situational leaders in history is Collin Powell. Powell believed in situational leadership and did not believe in implementing the latest management styles. According to Powell, the situation in any given setting dictates the approach to be used in the accomplishment of the teams’ objectives (Lafeber, 2009). From this, it is evident that Powell does not hold any specific style of leadership; rather, he asserts that a leader must be able to change his style to suit the leadership situation presented.

The Hersey and Blanchard Situational Leadership approach offers an explanation on how to match leadership styles with the readiness of the subordinate members. The model explains that the most suitable style is dependent on the situation, skills, and capabilities of subordinates. The directing quadrant in this case was the high task and low relationship quadrant (Weinstein, 1996). The communication, in this case, flows in one way, and the leader defines the particular task and then closely supervises the followers to achieve the intended outcome.

Powell applied the use of this quadrant in issuing orders to his troops hence making him very successful in his leadership.