How to use Hershey and Blanchard Situational Leadership: 4 Styles by Member Maturity

Directing new employees and ten-year seniors to do the same can make both of them uncomfortable. Hershey and Blanchard's situational leadership theory solves this problem to the point of preparation. It is a theory frequently used in organizational behavior theory, nursing management, and social welfare administration tasks, so it is organized in order of diagnosis.

What is situational leadership?

Paul Hershey and Ken Blanchard split the leader's behavior into two pillars: task behavior (what to do and how to do it) and relationship behavior (support and communication). And which combination is effective depends on the situation variable called the maturity of the members. 'There is no best leadership for every situation' is a representative model of situation theory.

Businesses and hospitals use this model to train managers and design new workforce onboarding. Neglected management, which is not suitable for newcomers, leads to mistakes and turnover, which leads to recruitment and training costs again, so it is also explained how management based on maturity saves labor costs.

Diagnosing member maturity

Maturity is twofold: ability (work knowledge, skills, and experience) and will (motivation, confidence, and responsibility). It's usually broken down into four steps.

사례 분석은 상황, 문제, 해결 순서로 나눠 쓰면 흐름이 깔끔하더라고요. 사례 끝에 이론과 연결되는 한 문장을 넣는 것도 한번 챙겨보면 좋을 것 같아요.

Linking the X-Y Theory with the Aziris Theory

McGregor's X theory believes that people hate work and need control, and the Y theory believes that people can work on their own responsibility. Aziris' immaturity-maturity theory points out that people grow from passive and dependent to active and independent, and that excessive control prevents growth. When these three theories are used together, the logic is that "members can grow (Y theory, Aziris), and leaders need to change their style according to the stage of growth (situational model)." Using this flow to diagnose a ward or department in an assignment increases persuasion and establishes the order of education investment and delegation.

Apply as a case

Employee A is enthusiastic in his third month of employment, but he is not yet familiar with the workflow (M2). In this case, the order of the tasks is specific, but the persuasive type explains why and is asked. Employee B in year 5 is good at his job, but if he has recently lost motivation (M3), he is more supportive in asking opinions and participating in decisions than directing (M3). As members grow, they also need to change their style.

Assignment structure and reference materials

In the assignment, it is neat to → write in the order of theoretical introduction → diagnostic tool diagnostic result by member → leadership style decision → expectation effect. The 15-page Campus-Based Leadership Diagnostic Assignment, which was diagnosed with Hershey's and Blanchard's situation models, McGregor's X and Y theories, and Aziris' theory, and determined the leader's behavioral style, can help you refer to the diagnostic table and narrative flow for those preparing diagnostic tasks for nursing management or organizational behavioral theory.

Related wiki: Peter's Principles