Path Goal Theory

Path Goal Theory In order to encourage, prevail and motivate their colleagues, Path Goal Theory requires a attracter to take into account situational factors when adapting a leadhip mood. Successful integration of situational factors with a leadership demeanor potbelly lead to maximized happiness and exertion from the companion. The Path Goal Theory states leaders must Forge a manner for followers to obtain their goal through coaching and explosive charge Remove roadblocks and obstacles that atomic number 18 pr withalting followers from accomplishing goal Increase rewards and incentives on the commission 1.Subordinate Factors (Follower Characteristics) A. Ability A followers self-efficacy and self perception of competence in performing labor movements to achieve goals. B. Authoritarianism is defined as the score to which the followers seek structure and task clarity. C. Experience Knowledge of or skill in achieving a goal. D. Locus of control How one perceives h ow more(prenominal)(prenominal) than they can control events that affect their goal achievement. Those with low internal locale of control seek to participate and engage in decision making. On the contrary, those with a strong external locus of control standardised to be directed and provided structure.Coach Lengyel has a diverse group of followers with a variety of contrasting personal characteristics. Due to their lack of experience, youth and general rag-tag composition, the interpreters on the police squad lack confidence, ability, cohesion and self efficacy. Given these characteristics, these players carry a high external locus of control and yearn for task clarity and guidance. In contrast, Coach Red Dawson and stave prexy Donald Dedmon have more autonomy and have established themselves more in their respected mappings.Lengyel even out to the varying characteristics of these followers by engaging them more in the decision-making cover and seeking their advice on certain issues that arise. 2. Environmental Factors A. Task structure A leader needs to analyze the elements and nature of a task a follower is responsible for and identify and remove any difficulties it could pose to the follower. B. lump function is the power position of the leader which can affect the satisfaction of a follower. If leading leadership and a highly formal confidence system are in place, the redundancy can cause follower dissatisfaction.C. Work group Group dynamics and relationship among followers. In situations where team up cohesiveness is low, followers need supportive leadership. Where a group is more established and talented, a directive or achievement oriented style is more optimal. The players face significant environmental challenges in both(prenominal) their task structure and work group dynamics. First, the vast majority of the team consists of freshmen or students who have never compete organized football. Learning the complex play schemes and the i ntricacies of the competitive collegiate plump for in such a succinct period is certainly daunting.Moreover, positions players such as the punter do not fully comprehend everything their roles entail. Since al nigh all the players havent played with each opposite, the team lacks the camaraderie and cohesion of their competitors. The confluence of these factors and the physically demanding tolls of the game have created significant roadblock in accomplishing their goals. The fear of embarrassing the connection and university with poor performance on the field and the examine of the cataclysm compounds the challenges the team face and weighs on them greatly.As a result, the players are more sensitive and an commanding and authoritarian leader will only exacerbate the situation. Similarly, the stress of the tragedy is overly weighing significantly on both Coach Dawson and Interim professorship Dedmon. by and by losing colleagues and players he coached and recruited from the t ragedy, Dawson has significant doubts just about whether he can be around the game anymore. The drastic changes with Dawsons workgroup and formal authority figure are daily reminders of the tragedy that occurred with the team.The tragedy wears on him and he has a significant effect on his confidence and motivation to stool and set the tasks associated with the assistant coaching job. With Dedmon, the opposition by some in the society to rebuild the football program has made Interim President insecure and timid when approaching tasks with the job. Furthermore, Dedmons confidence erodes initially when legion(predicate) coaches around the country turn down the offer to coach the marshall team due seemingly insurmount fitting challenges facing the program. Dedmon has to adjust o a changing environment surrounding the university and to Coach Lyngels tireless and enthusiastic style which contrasts greatly with his own. 3. Leader Behavior A. Supportive leadership Consider the needs of the follower, showing concern for their welfare, being approachable as a leader and creating a friendly working environment. This approach is outperform when the work is stressful, ambiguous and or hazardous. B. Directive leadership Telling and providing leaders with structure, task clarity while giving appropriate guidance along the way.The leader sets clear standards of performance in order to decrease role ambiguity. This form of leadership can be helpful when the follower is inexperienced. C. Participative leadership Effective when followers are autonomous. This form involves consulting with followers and making them an intact part of the decision process. This approach is roughly effective with followers who are knowledgeable and skilled and have a high internal locus of control. D. Achievement-oriented leadership Setting challenges goals, both in their work and in self-improvement.The leader establishes high standard of excellence and leader shows confidence in the capab ilities of the follower to succeed. This approach is best when the task is complex. Lengyel has to question whether the famous sports tenet, Winning isnt everything its the only thing is applicable to the season marshall is about to embark on. His predecessor, like a majority of other coaches led with predominately directive and achievement-oriented styles. Due to the nature of the sport and the intolerance of role ambiguity in the game, Coach Lengyel also exhibits a directive style of leadership in some scenarios.The players perceptions of their abilities are relatively low and Lengyel helps them by clarifying and enjoin them how to do their tasks. For instance, this directive style of leadership is evident when Lengyel instructs and clarifies the position players like the punter and offensive lineman how to do everything that their role entails. Given the players inclination for task clarity and guidance, the directive style would most likely be the most effective leadership st yle with inexperienced players in most scenarios.The most important factor however that impacts the follower characteristics and environmental factors is the stress and pressure resulting from the tragedy. Realizing the enormity of the tragedy, Lengyel utilizes a supportive style that provides psychological support and concern to his followers by their acknowledging the pain and frustration. Knowing that Dawson is in a sensitive emotional and mental state, Lengyel isnt too aggressive in his pursuit to have him on the coaching staff and always conservatively listens and assesses Dawsons objections and feelings.Lengyels pregame speech at the resting spot of six of the players from the Marshall team also exemplifies his exceptional ability to collectively assess both characteristics of his subordinates and the environmental factors when trying to motivate and instill confidence in his team. In the speech he addresses the tragedy of the past, the current teams shortcomings and even men tions how the team theyre facing has more ability and talent. He declares if they give in uttermost effort they will not lose and will reach their goals of notice the memory of the teammates killed in the plane crash and making the community proud.Lengyel realizes that due to the circumstances, that leading with the directive and achievement oriented styles isnt the most conducive approach. To motivate the players on the team, Lengyel has to utilize a Supportive style that taps into and emphasizes with the emotions of the players and tries to alleviate the stress and pressure of the situational factors. While some other leaders and his peers ultimately fail in certain circumstances for their stubbornness, Lengyels biggest leadership strength in contrast is his flexibility.As mentioned, with the players on the team Lengyels demonstrates mostly directive and supportive styles. In regards to followers with contrasting characteristics of the players, Lengyel is able to successfully adapt his leadership approach to engage and accommodate them. After assessing that the players on the team do not have the ability to execute relatively complex offensive schemes and tasks, Lengyel realizes they need to simplify their playbook. In this instance, because the assistants have established themselves in their respected roles, Lengyel engages them in the decision-making process.Utilizing the Participative leadership style results in Coach Dawson coming up with the idea to use the simplified snub Offense. In addition to building trust and satisfaction from the assistant coaches, the players also benefit as it reduces a significant roadblock for them 4. Outcome A. operation Helps followers reach their peak performance. B. Satisfaction Makes working to obtain goal more satisfying. By successfully adapting to both the characteristics of his subordinates and of the environment, Lengyel helps his followers exert maximum effort and gain satisfaction from obtaining their goals. Coach Lengyel was able to forge a path for his followers by taking into account the different strengths and weaknesses of his followers. As joint in his speech the teams main goal of honoring the memory of the team was to lay it on the line and provide maximum effort. Whether it was the players on the players on the field or even Interim President Dedmond aggressively petitioning the NCAA to let their freshmen play, Lengyels followers were clearly motivated by his leadership