II. Path-Goal Theory

The path-goal theory of leadership is concerned with the ways in which a leader can influence a subordinate’s motivation, goals, and attempts at achievement. It suggests that a leadership style is effective or ineffective on the basis of how the leader influences the perceptions of:

· Work goals or rewards of subordinates.

· Paths (behaviors) that lead to successful goal accomplishment.

The origin of this theory is in expectancy theory of motivation.. An employee’s motivations are influenced by the employee’s perceptions of his or her ability to accomplish a specific task, the relationships of the rewards to the accomplishment of the task, and the value of the rewards offered. The path-goal theory states that the leader can influence these perceptions of rewards and can clarify what employees have to do to achieve these rewards. With this foundation in mind, let’s examine the components of the path-goal theory: leader behavior and situational factors.

According to Robert J. House and Terrence R. Mitchell, subordinates are motivated by a leaders behavior. This behavior influences both goal attractiveness and the paths available to reach the goals. Their theory contains two prepositions concerning leader behavior:

1. Leader behavior is acceptable and satisfying to subordinates to the extent that they view such behavior as either an immediate source of satisfaction or an instrument to future satisfaction.

2. Leader behavior will increase subordinates’ efforts if it links satisfaction of their needs to effective performance and supports their efforts to achieve goal performance.

These propositions tell managers to increase the number of outcomes available for effective performance, clear the paths to these outcomes of barriers, and help subordinates to see these outcomes as desirable. To do this, the theory provides four types of leadership behaviors based on the work needed. These are:

· Instrumental behavior (task oriented). It involves the planning, monitoring, and task assignment aspect of leadership. Instrumental behavior can be used to increase an employee’s work effort or clarify outcomes.

· Supportive behavior. It involves the employee-oriented concern for the welfare and needs of subordinates. In addition, it includes creation of a warm, pleasant climate.

· Participative behavior. It involves using subordinates’ ideas in decision making. A subordinate who has ability would respond favorably to this approach.

· Achievement-oriented behavior. This involves both developing a highly challenging climate for an employee and demanding good performance.

These leadership behaviors are based on the situational factors. There are two situational factors that influence leadership behavior:

1. The personal characteristics of the subordinates. Personal characteristics of a subordinate include the personal’s ability, self-confidence, and needs. These elements describe the performance level of the ability and the degree of confidence in performing the job. This factor of personal characteristics affects how subordinates view their leader and themselves, the less supervision they will tolerate from the boss.

2. The environmental pressures and demands with which subordinates must cope to accomplish goals and satisfy personal needs. Environmental pressures include the influences on subordinates that they cannot control but that affect their abilities to perform the tasks effectively. Co-workers, the task assigned, and the leaders exercise of power are examples of these influences. Co-worker who are not cooperating can influence job performance and minimize an employee’s perception of completing the job.

Quite simply, the path-goal theory requires that the leader determine what subordinates want from their work and then help show them how to acquire those things through their work.

Conclusion: path-goal theory states that the effectiveness of a leader is based on how the leader influences the employees perception of work goals or rewards and their perception of the paths that lead to successful goal accomplishment.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14