Developed by Ken Blanchard, Situational Leadership® II has become one of the most widely used leadership models in the world because it helps improve employee engagement and increase employee retention.
The basic principal behind SLII® is simple: different situations call for different types of leadership, even with the same employee. And it makes a lot of sense. According to Ken Blanchard, 54% of leaders only use one style of leadership, regardless of the situation. This one-size-fits-all approach means that some employees end up getting over-managed (aka micro-managed) while others don’t get enough direction or support. SLII® addresses these problems by teaching leaders to adjust their leadership style based on each individual team member’s competence and commitment on a given goal or task.
The Basics of SLII®
Put simply, the SLII® leadership model is a three-step process that both the leader and the team member engage in together. It starts with setting a SMART goal for the team member.
Then the leader and team member should determine how prepared the team member is to complete that goal. On a development scale of one to four, the team member may be a total beginner at the given task, or he/she may be an expert.
Depending upon the development level, the leader then uses one of four leadership styles – directing, coaching, supporting, or delegating – to help the team member succeed at their given goal.
Why SLII® Works
SLII® gives leaders a simple and clear process for determining which style of leadership will work best with a given employee in a given situation. It’s an adaptive model that helps ensure that employees get enough support and encouragement, but don’t get stifled or over-managed. The goal of every leader should be to encourage the growth, development, and motivation of their team members, and SLII® helps simplify that process.
When employees receive individualized attention, support, and direction, they feel empowered and respected. As a result, effectively managed employees are more loyal, more successful, and more engaged in their work. The result is a better, happier workplace for everyone and a better bottom line. Some other possible benefits of SLII® include:
- accelerated learning for employees
- smoother communication at every level
- improved office morale
- fewer conflicts
- greater employee contribution.
This is obviously a high level overview of SLII®. To learn more about how SLII® can improve employee development, or for guidance on how to implement this unique leadership model in your office, give us a call.
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