Chapter 6 And The Path Goal Theory

I have chosen the movie “ Miracle” as an illustration of an individual, Herb Brooks, fulfilling the parameters of Robert House’s Path-Goal Theory .

Path-Goal Theory assumes that leaders are flexible and that they can change their style, as situations require. The theory proposes two contingency variables, such as environment and follower characteristics, that moderate the leader behavior-outcome relationship. The leader must consider follower’s valences, instrumentalities, expectancies, equity of rewards, and accuracy of role perceptions when assessing the requirements of his followers. Additionally, personal characteristics of subordinates determine how the environment and leader are interpreted. Effective leaders clarify the path to help their followers achieve organizational goals and facilitate the journey by reducing roadblocks and pitfalls. This approach assumes that there is one right way of achieving a goal and that the leader can see it while the followers can not. This casts the leader as the knowing person and the followers as dependent, thereby limiting the development of the follower. While the path-goal theory has some validity, Bass argues that better leaders integrate a task-oriented and relationship-oriented approach (Blake & Mouton, 1964) as well as demonstrate their ability to clarify the path to the goals (Bass, 1960, 1990). Furthermore, this transactional

Path-goal leadership purpose, “is to enhance employee performance and employee satisfaction by focusing on employee motivation, it emphasizes the relationship between the leader’s style and the characteristics of the subordinates and the work settings”(Northouse, 2013, p.137). Leaders in this theory focuses on how to enhances the subordinate goal attainment. This is done through providing information and rewards in the work environment.

Each leadership style from the three supervisors affects the motivation of their respective subordinates in different ways. Carol’s style has created a group of motivated employees with Art and Bob’s groups left lacking motivation.

Casse, P. (2014c). The new drivers of leadership. Training Journal, p. 27. Retrieved from academicguides.walden.edu/library

In Chapter 1 of Eliyahu Goldratt’s book The Goal, we are introduced to Alex Rogo a mere plant manager, whom going into work that early morning is already faced with issues. While the reading continues we are introduced to a group of frustrated characters including, Dempsey, Ray, Martinez, and an hourly worker Tony. Bill Peach the vice president of this plant has decided to come in early causing a ruckus in the plant. Peach is frustrated because customer order 41427 is late and decided to take matters into his own hands, by threatening Tony's job in which he has no power of doing so. Rogo now has to face the problem and handle it himself. As the chapter continues we see many different types of writing in the workplace mentioned and how it is utilized. Chapter 1 of The Goal shows us how purchase orders, grievance forms, and efficiencies are relevant in the workplace.

J., & Mitchell, T. R. (1974). Path– goal theory of leadership. Journal of Contemporary Business, 3, 81–97.

The upper-classman will teach the freshmen time management, organizational skills and social skills. Every single freshmen student athlete will have to meet with their mentor once a week. The meetings will be mandatory for the freshmen student athlete. During this time they will discuss the current academic semester and other issues dealing with school. The upper-classmen will give them pointers on how to be a good student. They will give them advice to meet with professors and ask for help if needed. The Path-goal theory in leadership refers to the ability to motivate others to their desired performance. “The aim of leadership in path-goal theory is to influence the satisfaction, motivation, and performance of participants. Similar to transactional leadership, there is the promise of valued rewards for followers who achieve the desired performance or objective” (Hickman 73). I relate this to the mentor program because the freshmen students want to be successful and having the upper-classmen as their leader they achieve success. During this process I will have to go back to this theory because it will be very helpful for what I am trying to accomplish. After graduating from the Master in Leadership Studies I will take the knowledge I learned here and use in my future job. I will be working with student athletes and figure out ways to give them the leadership that they need.

The path-goal theory’s focus is on the leader’s behavior that can allow for the employees to reach personal and organizational goals. A leader’s attitude has impact on the attitude of the staff. Leaders can reward employees when goals are met which can increase employee motivation, job satisfaction and overall productivity (Schultz, 2010). This theory identifies four styles of leadership as directive, supportive, participative and achievement-oriented (Schultz, 2010).

As years go by, I learn more about myself and figure out what my true goals are. Many of them help guide me to having a happy life. I’m going off to college to further more my education so that I become successful in my future. I want to get a job in my field right after college and willing to face the difficulties that are thrown at me. As long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to become a police officer. It’s been a dream of mine that I want to make happen.

When reading the first lines of "The Goal", I wondered if it would capture my attention. After all, how can a book which discusses the intricacies of a processing plant benefit me and add to my understanding of being an effective leader? It turns out that the book lured me and brought me into a world of understanding and optimism in regards to leadership in general, whether it 's taking control of my professional or personal life.

Leadership has been studied from a wide range of perspectives and thus it means different things to different people. Some people view leadership as the focus of group processes, some others view it from a personality or skills perspective, to some others leadership is an act or behavior, some school of thought describe leadership in terms of power relationship while some view leadership as a transformational process (Northouse, 2012). Looking at the various definitions of leadership, there are various terms that are important; including the fact that leadership is a process that involves influence and the attainment of a common goal, and usually occurs in the context of a group (Northouse, 2012). The path-goal theory is one of the

This journal article on the path-goal approach theory is a study that carefully examines the rapport and connection amongst leaders and followers job expectancies. This model designed by House (1974) addresses the directive, supportive, participative and achievement –oriented components of leadership and subordinates. Additionally, it studies the conduct and character of leaders while investigating situational contingences that transform those behaviors. Therefore, the leader’s role in this model is to ensure that they provide guidance and support while demonstrating behavior that is motivational by inspiring followers to work diligently to achieve organizational goals that were carefully outlined to facilitate success. Hence, the purpose of this study was to test the validity of the path-goal theory with reference to expectancy theory. Conversely, it revealed that cellular companies gives adequate powers to its managers to offer incentives to individuals performing at high levels. However, a weaker relationship between the leader conduct and the followers’ job expectancy was the outcome. One exception noted was that of supportive leader behavior which was revealed at the conclusion of the study. Subsequently, the behavior of the leader had a tremendous impact on outcome. Leaders must assist subordinates throughout the path by eliminating road blocks along the way. The primary function of the leader in this research was to motivate subordinates and increase payoffs

Research findings on Robert House’s Path Goal Theory are basically on the relationship between the leader’s style of leadership and the outcomes of the

Overall, the path-goal theory, path-goal theory of leader effectiveness, or path-goal model can be considered as a variant on Transactional Leadership Theory, where the leader clearly is directing activity and the only factor that varies is the manner in which this is done. There are some aspects of Contingency Theory, as well, where various means of application vary with the situation. The leader sees a path that needs to be tread, one leading to the accomplishment of a goal and she or he attempts to clear it and get the group members to tread on it. The leader may cajole command, reward or punish, get suggestions from the group, or sugar coat the tasks, if necessary, but it is clear that democracy is not the hallmark of this method. The Path-goal of Leadership Effectiveness was created to rectify prior research and anomalies resulting from empirical investigations of the effects of leader/task orientation and leader/person orientation/relationship on worker satisfaction and performance (House 1971).