PATH-GOAL LEADERSHIP (how leaders serve)

EMPOWERING YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE

1. Turning ME into WE2. Developing situationally-

relevant leadership styleS

PRO SUCCESS TOOLS1. The 4 path-goal

leadership styles2. Path 4 of the online

Virtual Teams pro manual

“Working with Jimmy Cagney made me a better actor.”

(Because his magnetism brought out the best performance in his

co-actors.)

• You’re not leading if others aren’t benefitting.• Leading is positive & productive in purpose & generates positive emotions which encourage employees to cooperate & contribute.• When you’re competently leading people, you’re simultaneously motivating them.

One of the quickest/easiest ways for leaders to benefit/serve co-workers is to clear a path to the goals you/they (WE) are trying to achieve = “run interference” for them like blockers for a running back in football.

• “Operationalize” the goal showing co-workers the what, why, who, when, where, & how of pursuing the goal = SERVICE• Remove obvious organizational

barriers to goal achievement, such as inadequate resources, lack of training, or work overload = SERVICE• Keep co-workers informed daily

about progress = SERVICE

The PATH is more important than the goal

because you learn more about success from traveling the path than from achieving the goal.

Zamples of 4 path-goal scenarios

PATH-GOAL leadership scenario #1:

Impersonal leadership style

Leading/serving workers who lack goal-focus & have limited

pro skills → Directive leadership style: micro-managing workers to group success

GOAL: Quick/efficient salting of roads & walkwaysPATH: import & layout all equipment & supplies for workers; stay on site with workers to oversee effectiveness & “trouble-shoot” emerging problems

PATH-GOAL leadership scenario #2

Personalized leadership style

Jackie’s REAL McDonald’s dollar menu

Leading/serving workers who lack goal-focus & have limited pro skills →

Personalized leadership style: positive reinforcement path to goal

GOAL: Smooth, coordinated, fast customer service during noon & evening rush periodsPATH: Jackie creates a personalized, fun working atmosphere by positively-reinforcing her workers with one dollar bills & candy when they set or break a group-set performance goal.

PATH-GOAL leadership scenario #3 Participative leadership style

Leading/serving workers who are goal-driven, but need on-the-job training

(OJT) →Participative leadership style: employees participate in paving the path to the goal

GOAL: Install an OJT operating system throughout the store PATH: using “managing by walking around” (timely on-the-spot work training) for customer-consideration collaboration between store manager, dept. heads, & part-time workers

PATH-GOAL leadership scenario #4

Virtual team leadership style

Leading/serving professional workers who are goal-committed &

competent →Virtual team leadership style: professional employees make their own decisions

GOAL: Investment decisions via group intelligence & judgment PATH: Team brainstorming for risk-balanced consensus investment strategies