Path-Goal Theory Flashcards
Path-Goal Theory
-Leaders adapt their behaviors based on their followers’ characteristics and the characteristics of the task
-Centers on how leaders motivate followers to accomplish designated goals
-Emphasizes the relationship between: the leader’s style, the characteristics of followers, the work setting
What is the goal of path-goal theory?
To enhance employee performance and satisfaction by focusing on employee motivation
Motivation principle (based on Expectancy Theory)
Followers will be motivated if they believe:
1. They are capable of performing the work
2. That their efforts will result in a certain outcome
3. That the payoffs for doing their work are worthwhile
Expectancy Theory
-Originates from psychology
-Motivation to do a behavior stems from the desirability of the outcome of that behavior
-Individuals make choices about their behaviors based on expected results
What are some challenged for the leader when it comes to path goal theory?
-Need to use a leadership style that best meets followers’ motivational needs
-Choose behaviors that complement or supplement what is missing in the work setting
-Enhance goal attainment by providing information or rewards
-Provide followers with the elements they need to reach their goals
Leadership generates motivation when… (Conditions of leadership motivation)
-It increases the number and kinds of payoffs followers receive from their work
-Makes the path to the goal clear and easy to achieve with coaching and direction
-Removes obstacles and roadblocks to attaining the goal
-Makes the work itself more personally satisfying
Path-Goal Leadership
-Defines goals
-Clarifies path
-Removes obstacles
-Provides support
What are the leadership behaviors selected to be part of path-goal theory?
-Directive
-Supportive
-Participative
-Achievement oriented
Directive leadership
-Leader provides clear instructions about their task, including expectations, how it is to be done, a timeline for when it should be completed, and clear standards for performance
-Similar to the “initiating structure” concept described in the Ohio State studies and the “telling” style in Situational Leadership
Supportive leadership
-Leader who is friendly and approachable
-Includes attending to the well-being and human needs of followers
-treats followers as equals and give them respect for their status
-resembles the consideration behavior construct that was identified in Ohio State studies
Participative leadership
-Consists of inviting followers to share in the decision making
-Consults with followers, obtains their ideas and opinions, and integrates their suggestions into decisions
Achievement-Oriented Leadership
-Leader who challenges followers to perform work at the highest level possible
-Establishes a high standard of excellence for followers and seeks continuous improvement
-High degree of confidence in followers’ capability of establishing and accomplishing challenging goals
True or false: Path-Goal theory is a trait approach that locks leaders into only one kind of leadership
-False!
-Leaders should adapt their styles to the situation or the motivational needs of their followers
-There may also be instances when it is appropriate for a leader to use more than one style at the same time
Follower Characteristics: What matters about the people?
-Follower characteristics determine how a leader’s behavior is interpreted by followers in a given work context
-Need for affiliation, preference for structure, desires for control, and self perceived level of task ability
Followers who have strong needs for affiliation prefer…
Supportive leadership because friendly and concerned leadership is a source of satisfaction
Followers desires for control: Internal and external locus of control
-Followers with an internal locus of control believe they are in charge of the events that occur in their life
-Followers with an external locus of control believe that chance, fate, or outside forces determine life events
Followers with an internal locus of control prefer..
Participative leadership
-It is the most satisfying because it allows them to feel in charge of their work and to be an integral part of decision making
Followers with an external locus of control prefer..
Directive leadership
-Parallels followers’ feelings that outside forces control their circumstances
As followers perceptions of their abilities and competence goes up..
-The need for directive leadership goes down
-Directive leadership becomes redundancy and excessively controlling when followers feel competent to complete their own work
Task characteristics (What matters about the task?): Task situations requiring leader involvement
- Unclear and ambiguous: leader needs to provide structure
- Highly repetitive: leaders needs to provide support to maintain follower motivation
- Weak formal authority system: leader needs to assist followers by making rules and work requirements clear
- Nonsupportive/weak group norms: leader needs to help build cohesiveness and role responsibility
What are obstacles?
-Anything in the work setting that gets in the way of followers
-They create excessive uncertainties, frustrations, or threats for followers
Task characteristics (What matters about the task?): Obstacles
-Leader’s responsibility is to help followers by: removing the obstacles and helping followers around them
-Assisting with obstacles will increase: followers’ expectations to complete the task and their sense of job satisfaction
How does the Path-Goal Theory work?
-The leader’s job is to help followers reach their goals by directing, guiding, and coaching them along the way
-Leaders must evaluate task and follower characteristics and adapt leadership style to these
-The theory suggests which style is most appropriate for specific characteristics
House’s Path-Goal Theory: Leaders can increase motivation by..
- reducing roadblocks that interfere with goal accomplishment
- providing the guidance and support needs by employees
- increasing meaningful rewards for goal accomplishment
