
Situational Leadership Model

In this Blanchard-Hersey model of situational leadership, a leader can adopt one of four stances depending on the competence and commitment levels of the follower(s).
Followers with high competencies need a leader who either Supports or Delegates.
On the other hand, those that need to develop their competencies will thrive with a leader who either Directs or Coaches depending on the commitment level of the follower.
The four leadership styles are:
S1 – Directing
For low competence and high commitment teams.
Offers step-by-step instructions, clear explanation of the consequences of non-performance and close supervision.
S2 – Coaching
For low competence and low commitment teams.
Focused increasing the confidence and skills of followers so that they can ultimately take on more responsibility for their actions.
S3 – Supporting
For high competence and low commitment teams.
Listening, praise and a high level of interaction between leader and follower. Leader puts a high level of trust in the follower to achieve the day-to-day tasks as the follower’s competence has also grown over time.
S4 – Delegating
For high competence and high commitment teams.
The leader encourages autonomy, while keeping an eye on not overloading the follower with responsibility and not withdrawing completely from the follower’s proximity.