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2.3.3 Path goal related leadership styles

Robert House (1971), further refined the study of personality characteristics, traits, roles, and situational variables by focussing on how an effective leader held characteristics (or behaviours) that enabled goal attainment. House identified four leadership behaviours that enabled a leaders' effectiveness when given a set of outcomes to achieve within a given workplace situation:

A. Directive;
B. Achievement-oriented;
C. Supportive; and
D. Participative.

Figure 2 Path-Goal Theory

Figure 2 Path-Goal Theory

The above model of Path-Goal Theory depicts the Expectancy Theory (V-I-E). This illustrates how the leader is effective where they can control and establish an outcome (V); that confirms the need and rewards for collective performance (I), and thus raises the subordinates' beliefs and values about their capacity to attain goals; and motivates people to 'put in the effort' (E) to perform in a sustained manner at this raised level.

House suggests that the leader in a number of ways can affect the performance, satisfaction, and motivation of a group:

House's study interfaces with Fiedler's earlier work by suggesting can adopt certain leadership styles, according to the situation:

The role of a leader is, therefore, to adopt a favourable style, appropriate to the subordinates ability and motivation, and appropriate to the environmental or situational constraints. The flexibility to modify leadership to 'fit' these situations and contingencies is the foundation, according to Fiedler, of leadership effectives (see figure below).

Figure 3 The Path-Goal Model of Leadership

Figure 3 The Path-Goal Model of Leadership
(© TAFE SA 1999, with permission, derived from Fiedler 1967)

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