Blake Moutin Leadership Grid. Phoebe Archibald. University of North Texas

Transcription

1 Blake Moutin Leadership Grid Phoebe Archibald University of North Texas A few years ago the University of Michigan, University of Texas, and Ohio State University decided to research the two types of leadership behaviors: initiating structure behavior and considerate leader behavior. It is important to note that leadership behavior is different than leadership traits. While, leadership traits are inherent qualities of a leader, leadership behavior is the action leaders take to actually lead people. Initiating Structure As the name implies, the initiating structure behavior of a leader focuses on accomplishing tasks and achieving goals. The behavior is also known as job centered leadership. With this type of leadership, very little emphasis is placed on relationships with subordinates and employees. However, this type of behavior is necessary because it gives structure to the work place that is completely necessary for success. Also, employees need the structure so that they know exactly and for how long to do a task. For example, a shipping company needs their leader to have a strong initiating structure behavior. They re leader needs to constantly be focused on meeting shipping deadlines. With all of the shipping information and deadlines in the leader s mind it would be safe to presume he or she has little time to exercise a considerate leader behavior. While the leader should have

2 a considerate trait, it is not necessary for the benefit of that company to constantly exercise the considerate leader behavior. Considerate Leader When an employee feels frustrated about certain tasks or employees, it is important to have a leader who will listen and care about the issue. A leader who exhibits that type of behavior is a considerate leader and is an integral part of every company. The considerate leader behavior has also been called employee-centered leadership, because of its emphasis on concern for people. In hotels, the main focus is customer service and satisfaction. In this setting, it is important for leaders to employ the considerate leader behavior. Not only should leaders exhibit that personality to customers but to employees as well. It is important that the hotel make a good impression on customers; therefore, taking the extra effort to treat employees well will greatly influence the hotel s relationship with the customers. Blake/Mouton Grid The Blake/Mouton grid was designed by Blake and Mouton to show what types of management exhibit the most considerate leader and initiating structure behavior. The grid was based on a 1 to 9 scale, with 9 exhibiting the most of a particular behavior. What the grid shows is that Team Management exhibited the most considerate leader behavior and the most initiating structure behavior. As a result, it might be presumed that because Team Management ranked high in both behaviors that it is the best type of management. 2

3 Actually, the University of Michigan, University of Texas, and Ohio State University discovered that that is not the case. Each company needs its own balance of both behaviors. For instance, a hotel will need more considerate leader behavior because this business focuses on serving people; whereas, shipping company can focus more on initiating structure leadership because that company needs to focus on meeting shipping deadlines. Application After looking at the Blake/Mouton Leadership Grid I have learned how difficult it is to be a leader. I have learned that there is no direct formula to become a leader; rather, a leader must be able to identify his or her environment and adjust his or her behavior accordingly. Perhaps leaders choose their environment rather than what leadership behavior they decide to incorporate. This means that people who are more people-oriented will most likely choose a hotel setting where they can exercise their inherent personality. Whereas, a more introverted person may prefer being a leader in a shipping company, because he or she is better at setting structure than interacting with people. In conclusion, I realize that I am probably a mixture of the initiating structure and consideration leadership behavior. I enjoy setting structure and having people follow my guidelines, but I also like to listen to people when they have a concern with their task. I want to take the time to listen to people if they do not understand how to accomplish a task. Like most people I probably benefit most from a Team Management type of situation. Since I benefit as part of a team I would probably be a better manager over a company that relies on Team 3

4 Management to succeed, versus other management styles that emphasize only on initiating structure or only on consideration leadership behavior. 4

5 References Williams, C. (2013). Management. 7 th Edition. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. 5