Leadership Chapter 13: Overcoming obstacles

path-goal leadership theory

addresses how a leader can assist others in overcoming obstacles that hinder productivity.
- suggests that a leader should choose a style that best fits the needs of individual group members and the work they are doing.
- has seven obstacles

7 obstacles of path-goal leadership

1. unclear goals
2. unclear directions
3. low motivation
4. complex tasks
5. simple tasks
6. low involvement
7. lack of challenge

unclear goals

leader needs to make goals clear and understandable

unclear directions

a leader needs to define the path to the goal clearly.
- unclear directions have a debilitating effect on individuals

expectancy theory

suggests that people will be more motivated when the effort they put into a task leads to an expected outcome that they value.
- occurs when individuals feel competent, get what they expect, and value what they do

feel competent

1st step helping others be more motivated
- individuals want to present themselves in a way that suggests to others we know what we are doing

help others get what they expect

2ns aspect of motivating othes
people are highly motivated when their expectations are met
- knowing that effort will lead to an expected outcome is very important

help others value what they do

3rd aspect of motivating others
- when people place a high value on what they are doing, they are more motivated. without a valued outcome, people are not motivated to put effort toward the goal

directive leadership

solution to complex tasks
take charge and clarify the path to the goal
- give others instruction, including what is expected of them, how it is to be done, and a timeline for when it should be completed

supportive leadership

- solution to simple tasks
offers a sense of human touch for those engaged in mundane mechanical activity
- encouraging others when they are engaged in tasks that are boring and unchallenging

participative leadership

solution to low involvement
- invite others to share in the ways and means of getting things done
- establish a climate that is open to new and diverse opinions

Achievement-oriented leadership

a leadership style in which the leader sets challenging goals, has high expectations of employees, and displays confidence that employees will assume responsibility and put forth extraordinary effort,,, helps with lack of challenge