Hersey and Blanchard's Situational Leadership Theory (Scenario)
Eric is trying to find the right leadership approach to use on his diverse group of employees. The workers vary widely in age, experience, and enthusiasm. Some employees need a lot of direction, while others do not. Yesterday, Eric accidentally upset one of the older and more experienced workers, Hazel, by trying to offer too much help. Hazel is a very capable and willing employee, and after 20 years with the company, she probably knew the job a lot better than Eric did. But he was only trying to be helpful, and he was also trying to compensate for the day before when he had not offered enough help to another worker, Joe. As a new employee, Joe had very little experience and needed a lot of specific information about his work duties. Other employees were more like Hank, who was able to do his job and liked to share in decision making. In his interactions with Hank, Eric focused more on communication and facilitation. After some consideration, Eric has chosen to apply Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership theory.
-According to Hersey and Blanchard,which leadership style should work best with Joe?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership theory, the telling style of leadership is most effective with employees who are new and inexperienced, like Joe. This style involves giving specific instructions and closely supervising the employee until they have gained confidence and competence in their role. Therefore, Eric should use a telling approach with Joe to ensure he receives the guidance and support he needs to succeed in his role.