Leadership Approach Essay

Various theoretical approaches have been conducted to determine the concern of leading and the key attributes of effective leaders. The five research approach arrest of the trait approach, behavior approach, power-influence approach, roleal approach, and integrative approach. Although each approach has its merits and issues, the focus of this physical composition will be the situational approach.OverviewThe situational leading approach views leadership in copulation to a limited context. The cogitation suggests that for every situation a specific leadership bolt is usurp. In situational leadership, the factors that affect the leadership style take on the situation, the organization, the followers, the timing and the nature of work (Yukl, 2010). By assessing these factors, leaders make decisions on their leadership style. In addition, situational leadership has two subcategories. The first one reviews the similarity or differences of leadership within an organization. This study involves using comparison among situations and the differences or similarities between approaches.The second study evaluates the correlation between leadership traits, skills and attributes to leadership effectiveness (Yukl, 2010). Finally, the study by Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard in 1969 provided a matrix of communication for persona in this type of leadership. The matrix recommends the use of four influence competencies such as rotund or directing, selling, delegate and participating. Each style is adapted to the followers maturity or competency. The four styles suggest that leaders should put greater or less(prenominal) focus on the task in question and/or the race between the leader and the follower, depending on the development level of the follower (Changing Minds, 2012).Strengths and WeaknessesThe military group of the situational approach of research is that it provides a variety of study iterations, thus allowing for the researchers to hold in certain pa rts of the study. Moreover, the situation is observable and results are easy to understand. thusly the study provides flexibility and learn in modifying various factors within the control situation. For instance, by manipulating a certain control situation, researchers so-and-so review the leaders reactions and methods to resolving the issues put forward. The weaknesses of using this approach are that it contains too galore(postnominal) variables. Endless numbers of variables can be factored in to a situation and thus, can create confusion in the study. Moreover, the approach does not all the way distinguish between leadership and management and given a situation, managers can act as leaders and vice versa without further clarification.Examples of Situational leadingSituational leadership exists in __________, a financial service firm, and the authors up-to-date employer. Situational leaders use four influence competencies such as telling or directing, selling, delegating, an d participating. Each style must be applied to the appropriate situation be affected and the audience or group being addressed (Changing Minds, 2012). The examples will be based on the authors observations of her direct superior, the Senior Partner of the company, (Eric). As senior partner, Eric is in switch on of the companys strategic direction. Thus, he delegates authority to various virtuoso(prenominal) and competent individuals. In every twenty-four hour period business, Eric uses the delegating and participating style.He understands that the offshoot managers and senior cater are skilled to handle every day issues. However, in times of uncertainty and stress, for instance, the possible stock market decline, Eric shifts his style to more of a telling or directing style. This telling or directing style is typically used in lower competency and low trust group of followers. Even though Eric realizes that the senior staff members are well trained to handle stock market declin es, Eric looks at the situation and modifies his behavior and communication style to a more guiding leadership.ConclusionThe situational approach in studying leadership provides an overview of the use distinguishable traits, skills and communication styles in order to fit into the situation. Although this approach has its merits and weaknesses, it is the most widely used leadership study. Regardless of the approach used in study or leadership style, the most important factor is the leaders accountability for the outcome of the decisions made.ReferenceChanging Minds, (2012), Hersey and Blanchards Approach, Retrieved from http//changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/situational_leadership_hersey_blan chard.htmYukl, G. A. (2006). Leadership in organizations (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJPearson/Prentice Hall.