#11. Situational Leadership

Quick Start Guide

Julley!

For today’s newsletter, sharing my notes taken during a session attended 2 years back on ‘Situational Leadership’. If you are a people manager, these notes may come in handy.

Situational Leadership

We commonly speak or hear the phrase ‘different strokes for different folks’. This guide is more about ‘different strokes for same folks’. Think of the classic skill-will matrix (introduced in Tao of Coaching by Max Landsberg). We tend to compartmentalize people in the 4 quadrants. The reality is that the same person can be in different boxes at the same time depending on the goal/task at hand.

For me, the below guide has come in handy especially when a direct report transitions into a different role.

Here’s the quick reference for you to start.

1. Diagnosis of Development Level: Identify Skill and Will (varies for each Goal for the same person)

   • D1: Low Skill, High Will [hopeful, inexperienced, excited, optimistic]

   • D2: Low to Some level of Skill, Low Commitment [overwhelmed, confused, demotivated, flashes of competence]

   • D3: Moderate to High Skill, Variable Commitment [capable, doubtful, insecure, bored]

   • D4: High Competence, High Commitment [confident, expert, consistent, self-reliant]

2. Leadership Style based on Diagnosis

   • S1 for D1: High Direction, Low Support [Defining, Telling how, Planning, Monitoring, Giving feedback]: I decide

   • S2 for D2: Low Direction, High Support [Asking, Encouraging, Praising, Redirecting]: We discuss, I decide

   • S3 for D3: High Direction, High Support [Encouraging, Asking, Appreciating, Reassuring. Problem solving]: We discuss, You decide

   • S4 for D4: Low Direction Low Support [Empowering, Challenging, Trusting]: Keep me informed

• Pitfalls to avoid

  • A person at a Dx will always remain a Dx

  • Believing Confidence is Competence: Ask: Pls tell me how will you do it?

  • Diagnosing Potential rather than performance

• Tips

  • Soft on People, Tough on Performance

  • Manage Behavior, Not the person

  • Regular 1o1 for proper diagnosis

I hope you found this quick start guide useful. Please leave a comment to share your thoughts on the post

If you like the post do share it with your family and friends.

PS: If you are wondering what ‘Julley’ means - this is the word I learnt during my summer vacation in the beautiful Ladakh region. People in Ladakh say ‘Julley’ to greet each other, same word is used to say hi, say bye, to say thanks. I loved the word! Here’s a pic from the trip.