Situational Theories of Leadership

House’s Updated Path-Goal Theory

Derived from expectancy motivation theory. Effective leaders enhance employee motivation by:

Clarifying perceptions of work goals

Linking rewards to goal attainment

Explaining how goals and rewards can be achieved

Path-Goal Theory: Leader Behavior Categories

Path-goal clarifying behaviors

Achievement-oriented behaviors

Work facilitation behaviors

Supportive behaviors

Interaction facilitation behaviors

Group decision behaviors

Networking behaviors

Value-based behaviors

Transformational Leadership Theory

Transformational leaders: Capable of charting new courses for their organization. Visionaries who challenge people to do exceptional things, above and beyond the plan

Transactional leaders

Monitor people so they do the expected, according to plan in order to maintain the status quo. Get people to do things by offering a reward or threatening them with a punishment.

Transactional versus Transformational Leaders