Hersey-Blanchard SLT 4 LEADERSHIP STYLES organized on a 2x2 task-behavior + relationship-behavior matrix. (1) S1 TELLING (Hersey) / DIRECTING (Blanchard) - HIGH TASK + LOW RELATIONSHIP behaviors. Leader provides specific instructions + closely supervises performance + clearly defines roles + tells what + when + how + where to do the task. Appropriate for low-readiness/D1 followers who need clear direction + structure + frequent monitoring. Risk: paternalistic + micromanagement perception if applied to higher-readiness followers. (2) S2 SELLING (Hersey) / COACHING (Blanchard) - HIGH TASK + HIGH RELATIONSHIP behaviors. Leader explains decisions + provides direction + invites questions + provides opportunities for clarification + checks understanding. Appropriate for some-readiness/D2 followers who need direction PLUS support + buy-in. Effective for building competence + commitment together. (3) S3 PARTICIPATING (Hersey) / SUPPORTING (Blanchard) - LOW TASK + HIGH RELATIONSHIP behaviors. Leader shares ideas + facilitates decision-making + listens + facilitates problem-solving + provides recognition + builds confidence. Appropriate for moderate-to-high readiness/D3 followers who have skills but variable commitment + confidence. Effective for building autonomy + collaboration. (4) S4 DELEGATING - LOW TASK + LOW RELATIONSHIP behaviors. Leader turns over responsibility for decisions + implementation + monitors at agreed milestones. Appropriate for high-readiness/D4 followers who have both competence + commitment + can operate independently. Effective for empowerment + leveraging high-performers. STYLE FLEXIBILITY: effective leaders develop comfort + capability across all 4 styles + can switch among them as situational demands change; few leaders are naturally comfortable in all 4. STYLE APPLICATION: leaders apply style based on diagnosis of follower readiness for the SPECIFIC TASK at hand - same follower may need S1 for new task + S4 for proven task simultaneously.
The graph holds this control, the 0 it maps to, and the evidence behind each claim, over MCP and REST.