Principles of Hotel Management

particular behaviour of a leader may be effective only at a
particular point of time and may be ineffective at other times.
Behavioural approach to leadership assumes that a leader
uses conceptual, human and technical skills to influence and
lead his subordinates. Several attempts have been made to
identify the basic dimensions of leadership behaviour. The most
systematic and comprehensive research studies include the
studies by Lickert, Blake and Mouton, and studies at Ohio State
University and University of Michigan.
Behavioural approach to leadership is an improvement over
the personality approach. It identifies the behavioural dimensions
of leadership that may contribute to the success of a leader.
But this approach does not use scientific tests. It uses
questionnaire, observation and interviews to identify dimensions
of behaviour. Hence, behaviour dimensions cannot be measured
objectively.

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Focus of Management
213
Personality theories hold that a leader can be successful
if he has certain traits. Behavioural theories, on the other hand,
hold that a leader can be successful if he behaves in a particular
manner. Thus, both the personality and behaviour theories ignore
the effects of situational factors on leadership. The situational
approach of leadership emphasises that emergence and success
of a leader is largely determined by situational factors apart
from the traits and behaviour of the leader himself.
The focus of the situational approach is on the behaviour
of a leader in a particular situation and not on the traits or
qualities of the leader. This approach stresses that a leadership
behaviour which is effective under one particular situation may
be ineffective under the other. If a leader behaves in the same
manner under all situations, he may fail.
Thus, situational leadership approach states that leadership
is strongly affected by the situations under which a leader
works. These situations are created by the following forces :
(i) Forces in the leader.
(ii) Forces in the subordinates.
(iii) Forces in the situation.
There are several different situational models of leadership
have been developed. Fildler’s contingency model, Path-goal
model, Blanchard’s model etc. are some of the well-known
situational leadership models.