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ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Leadership and organisational culture

Tavira Software's team leader, Jonas, has a very capable, motivated programmer who is fully able to complete a new task without supervision. Using Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership model, which style is most appropriate for Jonas to adopt with this programmer?

Delegating is most appropriate. In Hersey and Blanchard's model, a follower who is both highly capable and motivated needs little task direction or relationship support, so the leader hands over responsibility. Telling, selling or participating would involve unnecessary supervision for this programmer.

  1. ATelling, with close direction and supervision
  2. BSelling, explaining decisions and persuading
  3. CParticipating, sharing decisions and supporting
  4. DDelegating, with low direction and low supportCorrect

Explanation

Hersey and Blanchard match style to follower readiness. A follower who is both able and willing needs little direction or support, so delegating fits. Telling suits low readiness, selling suits low-to-moderate readiness, and participating suits able but unsure followers; applying these here would over-manage a capable employee.

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