discussion

What did you find to be compelling and enlightening? What other advice do you have to give in your current or experience.

The path-goal theory is designed to provide a helpful direction to leaders and how they can help followers accomplish their work in a satisfactory way (Northouse, 2018). This is mostly done through defining goals, clarifying paths, removing obstacles, and providing support (Northouse, 2018). Leader behavior is one of the path-goal theory’s where leadership behaviors include being directive, supportive, participative and achievement-oriented (Northouse, 2018). Directive leadership helps five followers’ instructions on expectations, tasks, timelines and how to complete something (Northouse, 2018). Explaining that leaders who have explicit expectations provides clarify for followers (Northouse, 2018). However, supportive leadership consists of a leader being approachable and friendly while attending to the well-being of their followers (Northouse, 2018). Supportive leaders therefor provide followers with confidence to succeed and move forward (Northouse, 2018). On the other hand, participative leadership is when leaders invite followers to share and contribute in decision making (Northouse, 2018). This style of leadership can result in higher participation and more dedicated group members (Northouse, 2018). Finally, while achievement-oriented leadership is characterized by a leader who will challenge their follower to the highest level of performance possible (Northouse, 2018). This allows leaders to create followers who have high levels of standards and to continuously seek improvements. Because path-goal theory is not like the trait approach where leaders are locked into only one kind of leadership, leaders can exhibit more than one style (Northouse, 2018). In fact, leader can exhibit any or all of these styles deepening on different situations and the types of their followers (Northouse, 2018).

I am lucky to have a leader that exhibits most of the four leadership styles within her management techniques. However, my boss Amy mostly relates and exercises a supportive leadership style.  She is extremely easy to approach and always friendly. She makes sure that her workers are doing well outside of just work and over all well-being. She gives us respect when we deserve it and provides confidence that we can get the job done.