Path-goal theory is a contingency model because
House’s Path Goal TheoryThe theory was developed by Robert House and has its roots in the expectancy theory of motivation. The theory is based on the premise that an employee’s perception of expectancies between his effort and performance is greatly affected by a leader’s behavior. The leaders help group members in attaining rewards by clarifying the paths to goals and removing obstacles to performance. They do so by providing the information, support, and other resources which are required by employees to complete the task. Show House’s theory advocates servant leadership. As per servant leadership theory, leadership is not viewed as a position of power. Rather, leaders act as coaches and facilitators to their subordinates. According to House’s path-goal theory, a leader’s effectiveness depends on several employee and environmental contingent factors and certain leadership styles. All these are explained in the figure 1 below: Figure 1: Path-Goal Leadership Theory Leadership StylesThe four leadership styles are:
According to the theory, these leadership styles are not mutually excusive and leaders are capable of selecting more than one kind of a style suited for a particular situation. ContingenciesThe theory states that each of these styles will be effective in some situations but not in others. It further states that the relationship between a leader’s style and effectiveness is dependent on the following variables:
When team cohesiveness is low, a supportive leadership style must be used whereas in a situation where performance-oriented team norms exist, a directive style or possibly an achievement-oriented style works better. Leaders should apply directive style to counteract team norms that oppose the team’s formal objectives. ConclusionThe theory has been subjected to empirical testing in several studies and has received considerable research support. This theory consistently reminds the leaders that their main role as a leader is to assist the subordinates in defining their goals and then to assist them in accomplishing those goals in the most efficient and effective manner. This theory gives a guide map to the leaders about how to increase subordinates satisfaction and performance level. Authorship/Referencing - About the Author(s)
What Is The Path-Goal Theory Of Leadership? Path-Goal theory is half leadership, half motivational theory. It was developed to explain how leaders motivate their followers toward a determined end. It is derived from expectancy theory, which argued that employees will be motivated if they believe that a) putting in more effort will yield better job performance, b) better job performance will lead to rewards, such as an increase in salary or benefits, and c) these rewards are valued by the employee in question. According to path-goal theory, leaders help followers by selecting a style of leadership (directive, supportive, participative, or achievement-oriented) that motivates followers and helps them move toward the desired reward. In essence, followers are on a path toward a goal, and leaders are there to help followers reach that goal through guidance, coaching, and direction. Path-goal theory is a contingency theory, in that it predicts how a leader’s style will interact with a follower’s needs and the nature of the task. It argues directive leadership for ambiguous tasks, supportive leadership for repetitive tasks, participative leadership for unclear, autonomous tasks, and achievement-oriented leadership for challenging tasks. Path-goal theory provides leaders with a practical yet theoretical foundation for discerning which leadership style to select. It also builds on a motivational theory as its foundation. However, path-goal theory is difficult to apply to organizations because it utilizes so many, interconnected assumptions. Despite building upon a motivational theory, path-goal theory does not fully explain how leadership styles affect follower motivation, which is one of many reasons why it lacks a strong research supporting its claims. Thanks for reading. You can get more actionable ideas in my popular email newsletter. Each week, I share educational (and entertaining) videos, articles, and podcasts that will help you and your team do your best work ever. Over 40,000 leaders just like you have subscribed. Enter your email now and join us. More Articles in This Series:
Why is pathIn essence, followers are on a path toward a goal, and leaders are there to help followers reach that goal through guidance, coaching, and direction. Path-goal theory is a contingency theory, in that it predicts how a leader's style will interact with a follower's needs and the nature of the task.
What are the contingencies of the pathLeadership Styles
Pathgoal theory is a contingency theory, proposing that effective leadership is contingent on the leader's adopting a particular style of behavior to match the needs to the subordinate and the situation in which the subordinate is working.
What is the main concept of pathGoal-path theory is based on the premise that a leader's behavior impacts the satisfaction, motivation and performance of employees. This theory is based on expectancy theory, the assertion that an individual will act in a certain way based on the expectation of a desirable outcome.
What is the difference between pathOne of the main differences between the two approaches is that path theories emphasize the personality of the leader, while contingency theories stress the nature of surrounding circumstances.
|
