Unpacking the Popularity of Situational Leadership: What Makes it Stand Out?

You are probably familiar with leaders who excel in crisis situations, while others are better suited for collaborative efforts. Perhaps you've worked under a boss who was extremely empathetic but struggled to deliver results when the stakes were high.

Leadership at its finest is all about being intentional and adaptable. The best leaders are like chameleons who can effortlessly change their colours to match the situation at hand.

Does it mean they are not authentic?

Let’s talk about Steve Jobs, (co-founder of Apple and CEO of Pixar Animation Studios) he is known as an autocratic leader due to his perfectionist traits, however, Jobs was a multifaceted leader with a unique personality. He employed situational leadership frameworks to provide a clear direction, empower his tech developers, and inspire creativity. By leveraging the strengths of his team, Jobs brought out the best in his employees and encouraged them to pursue their unique ideas. He was also recognised as one of the most influential situational leaders of our time.

Different situations demand different responses, as do different people. As a leader, your ability to adapt is a superpower.

It’s not about being inauthentic. Rather, situational leadership is a bit like having a toolkit with different hammers for different nails. It’s understanding that there’s no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to leading a team.

So, what is situational leadership?

Situational leadership is a leadership approach that takes into account the dynamic nature of the work environment and the needs of team members. It is a flexible framework that enables leaders to adjust their leadership style to match the situation at hand, overcome challenges, and achieve desired outcomes.

Situational leadership means stepping into the different roles that the situation calls for.

So, let’s unpack the art of situational leadership and look at how you can get better at it.

Step 1: Know your audience/situation and get to their emotional level

The first step to practising situational leadership is to be able to pick up on the vibe in the room (and the situation) and look for easy cues. Tune into your team’s emotions. Are they excited, anxious, or on the burnout on-ramp?

Once you’ve assessed what is happening around you, ask yourself: what does success look like in this situation? Consider what is being required of you and the team you lead.

Your ability to use your sensing skills to connect and empathise emotionally sets the stage for situational leadership.

Step 2: Next, work out what leadership archetype is needed for the situation. I’ve listed some of the most common or useful ones below.

The Driver

There’s a crisis. Handholding or spending time on feelings are not going to help, instead crisis situation needs the leader to step up, give clear directives, show confidence and take charge. Your team needs clear communication, guidance and support and your ability to make the right decision at this point is going to instil confidence in your team. So, take charge! 

The Collaborator

This is very opposite from the driver approach, there is a problem and you and your team need to come up with an innovative solution. But you can’t be very pushy or when it comes to brainstorming or innovative problem-solving ideas. For ideas to flow through the room, you have to give them the right environment, support and time. Now is the moment to be the collaborator. Step back a bit and allow space for the creativity to flow. As a leader. your role in this situation is not about directing but facilitating. You are responsible for creating an environment where creativity is celebrated and every voice is heard. Here, It’s not about being the expert; but more about unleashing the expertise within your team.

The Coach

Coaching styles come into play when you are on the sidelines and your team is working on removing obstacles or facing challenges. What’s your job here? Listen actively, empower your team, let them make decisions and provide continuous feedback, you are working as a coach for your team, nurturing them and growing their potential. 

Adapting your leadership style is about being the leader your team needs at any given moment. Whether it’s fostering innovation, steering through a crisis, or coaching for growth, your ability to read the situation and respond accordingly will enhance both your effectiveness and that of your team.

In 2024, let’s channel situational leadership when it comes to our leadership practice. Let’s be the drivers, navigators, and collaborators our teams need when they need it. Because in the dynamic world of leadership, adaptability isn’t a nice to have, it’s table stakes.