Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model
Hersey and Blanchard's Situational Leadership Model: there is no best leadership style, and the leader matches the amount of direction (task behaviour) and support (relationship behaviour) to the follower's readiness, the ability and willingness to do a specific task, moving through four styles (telling, selling, participating, delegating; in Blanchard's SLII directing, coaching, supporting, delegating) as readiness rises and back when it falls. A practitioner model with contested empirical support, not a certifiable standard.
Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model is a compliance framework from International with 4 domains and 23 controls that map to 12 other frameworks. The largest domains are Applying the model: matching, developing, regression, competencies and instruments – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model (10 controls), Foundations: leader behaviour dimensions, effectiveness and follower readiness – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model (5 controls), Performance readiness and development levels (R1 to R4, D1 to D4) – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model (4 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (4)
Applying the model: matching, developing, regression, competencies and instruments – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A1 | Determine the appropriate style: choose the area to influence, diagnose readiness in it, match the style |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A10 | Use performance results as the signal to shift style along the curve |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A2 | Develop readiness gradually: reduce structure a little, then reinforce with support |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A3 | Handle regression by moving back along the curve to the follower's present readiness |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A4 | The Situational Leadership competencies: Diagnose, Adapt, Communicate, Advance |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A5 | The three SLII skills: Diagnosis, Flexibility, Partnering for Performance |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A6 | Style range, style adaptability and the leader's natural style |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A7 | Span of control as a function of follower readiness, not hierarchy level |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A8 | Instruments to measure leader style and follower readiness (LASI or LEAD, readiness scales, Readiness Style Match) |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::A9 | Participation calibrated to task-relevant readiness |
Foundations: leader behaviour dimensions, effectiveness and follower readiness – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::F1 | Two dimensions of leader behaviour: task (directive) behaviour and relationship (supportive) behaviour |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::F2 | No best style: effectiveness is the fit between style and situation (the Tridimensional Leader Effectiveness Model) |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::F3 | Follower readiness as the situational variable, defined per task |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::F4 | The curvilinear matching rule: as readiness rises, reduce task behaviour, then reduce relationship behaviour |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::F5 | Components of leadership style: five task and five relationship behaviour dimensions |
Performance readiness and development levels (R1 to R4, D1 to D4) – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::R1 | R1 Unable and unwilling or insecure (SLII D1 Enthusiastic Beginner: low competence, high commitment) |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::R2 | R2 Unable but willing or confident (SLII D2 Disillusioned Learner: some competence, low commitment) |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::R3 | R3 Able but unwilling or insecure (SLII D3 Capable but Cautious Performer: moderate to high competence, variable commitment) |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::R4 | R4 Able and willing or confident (SLII D4 Self-Reliant Achiever: high competence, high commitment) |
The four leadership styles (S1 to S4) – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::S1 | S1 Telling or Directing: high task, low relationship |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::S2 | S2 Selling or Coaching: high task, high relationship |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::S3 | S3 Participating or Supporting: high relationship, low task |
| hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model::S4 | S4 Delegating or Entrusting: low relationship, low task |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model, you already cover:
NHS Healthcare Leadership Model
6%
2 controls mapped
Compare →Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) Model
6%
2 controls mapped
Compare →LEADS in a Caring Environment
6%
2 controls mapped
Compare →+ 9 more: Kotter 8-Step Change Model (6%), Kolb Experiential Learning Cycle (6%)
See all 12 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 12 other frameworks
Coverage is not the same as your position
This page shows what Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model overlaps with in general. Where your organisation actually stands, against the standard you are going for and the certifications you already hold, is a different question. Same graph and the same recorded refutations, scoped to you rather than to a pair.
The Compliance Position Diagnostic, $5,000 fixed, ten business daysWhat is Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model and who does it apply to?
Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model is a compliance framework from International with 4 domains and 23 controls. Hersey and Blanchard's Situational Leadership Model: there is no best leadership style, and the leader matches the amount of direction (task behaviour) and support (relationship behaviour) to the follower's readiness, the ability and willingness to do a specific task, moving through four styles (telling, selling, participating, delegating; in Blanchard's SLII directing, coaching, supporting, delegating) as readiness rises and back when it falls. A practitioner model with contested empirical support, not a certifiable standard. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model actually require?
Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model has 23 controls organised across 4 domains. The largest domains are Applying the model: matching, developing, regression, competencies and instruments – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model (10 controls), Foundations: leader behaviour dimensions, effectiveness and follower readiness – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model (5 controls), Performance readiness and development levels (R1 to R4, D1 to D4) – Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model do I already cover?
Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model maps to 12 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are NHS Healthcare Leadership Model (6% coverage), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) Model (6% coverage), LEADS in a Caring Environment (6% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model?
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