1. What is situational leadership?
2. Why is situational leadership important?
3. How do you implement situational leadership?
4.You have an employee who has been on the job for 7 months, they are always on time, willing to help out but lack the required skills to move on to the next level in their job. They are up for a review and job promotion at the 9 month mark but you know they aren't ready. They lack confidence and independence. What leadership style do you use based on SLT? What specific steps do you take to get them to the next level at the job? (note: you can't fire them!!!!)

Situational Leadership Model was created by Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey. It analyses the amount of support and supervising that the leader supposed to give to his followers. It is presented in four types. 1. Telling (Directing) Leaders who explain the roles and tasks for each employee and then supervise their performance closely. Communication is the most important; in this case leaders tell their followers what to do. 2. Selling (Coaching) Leaders define the roles and tasks but also seek new ideas from followers. Decisions are made by a leader and he/she shows tow-way communication where the leader provides the opportunity to help the follower. 3. Participating (Supporting) Leaders pass day-to-day decisions on their followers, but take part in the decision making process, involves high relationship but low task behavior. This style is for people who have competence but lack of confidence and motivation. Followers do not need a lot of direction but support from their leaders. 4. Delegation Leaders are still involved in the decision making process but control is on the follower. The followers decide when to get the leader involved. Employees need little supervision and support.
Implementing situational leadership is teaching managers how to recognize the weaknesses and strengths of each leadership style, and know how to apply this knowledge into a workplace. Also managers should recognize and use the kind of leadership style that will be suited best for their followers. Successful leaders should be able to adapt quickly and use any leadership style in a given situation, to be flexible on how to coach and motivate their followers for achieving best business results.
In a case where employee have been on the job for seven month, have been punctual and willing to do any task, but have lack of required skills, confidence and independence. The leader should use second, selling leadership style, where the communication between an employee and a manager is two-way, it is for people who have competence, but lack of commitment; the employee needs supervision and direction from the leader because he/she is inexperienced. In addition, employee seeks for a support from a leader to build their self-esteem and be involved in the decision making process to feel important for the company, and that way could build their commitment.
The specific steps could be giving an employee small tasks every day, and when he/she accomplishes it reward her/him. Also, by giving an opportunity to take extra short-training classes, related to a future promotion. In addition, recognize an employee straights and supplement them. Finally, making an employee important and valuable for the company will make a big difference.