Overview
This lecture introduces the behavioral approach to leadership, emphasizing what leaders do (behaviors) rather than who they are, and covers how task and relationship behaviors influence leadership effectiveness.
The Behavioral Approach to Leadership
- Focuses on leaders’ actions and behaviors rather than inherent traits or skills.
- Emerged in the 1950s-1980s, shifting attention to what leaders do in various situations.
- Identifies two key types of leadership behaviors: task behaviors and relationship behaviors.
- Task behaviors (production orientation) focus on achieving goals and completing tasks.
- Relationship behaviors (employee orientation) emphasize team well-being and positive interactions.
- Effective leadership involves combining task and relationship behaviors to influence others.
Major Leadership Behavior Models
- University of Michigan used "production orientation" for task behaviors and "employee orientation" for relationship behaviors.
- Blake and Mouton developed the Leadership Grid with axes for concern for people and concern for results.
- Leadership styles in the grid:
- Impoverished Management: Low concern for both people and results (minimal effort).
- Country Club Management: High concern for people, low for results (friendly atmosphere).
- Authority-Compliance: High concern for results, low for people (focus on efficiency).
- Middle-of-the-Road Management: Moderate concern for both (adequate performance).
- Team Management: High concern for both (trust, respect, committed people).
Application and Effectiveness
- Matching behavior to situation and personnel is essential for leadership effectiveness.
- Leaders can choose and shift between task and relationship orientations as needed.
- Task behaviors suit goal-driven or independent projects; relationship behaviors suit team-intensive or collaborative tasks.
- Understanding behavioral approach helps leaders coach others and be more effective.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: Broadened leadership theory to observable actions; easy-to-use grid; extensive research base.
- Weaknesses: No universal set of effective behaviors found; effectiveness depends on context and follower needs.
- Opened the door to considering situational and follower factors in leadership.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Behavioral Approach — Leadership theory focusing on leaders’ actions rather than traits.
- Task Behaviors — Actions aimed at achieving goals and completing work.
- Relationship Behaviors — Actions focused on supporting and connecting with team members.
- Leadership Grid — Blake and Mouton’s model plotting concern for people vs. concern for results.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Discuss with your ministry mentor or senior leader which apostolic pioneering project you will focus on this year.
- Review your previous "portrait predictor" results to reflect on your own task vs. people orientation.
- Be prepared with a practical project for team building and strategic planning in upcoming sessions.