Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
Chapter 5 – Situational Approach
Discussion Questions and Exercises
1. What is Situational Leadership® ?
3. Define development level. Identify, explain, and give examples of followers who would fit
each of the four proposed development levels.
4. Explain the two steps leaders must fulfill to be effective. Apply these steps to a current
situation in which you are a follower. What style would be most appropriate for leading you,
according to the theory, and why? Do you agree?
6. Complete the measure Situational Leadership® : A Brief Questionnaire. How well did you do?
What factors might make it harder for you to be more directive as a leader? More supportive?
7. Does a leader’s motivation for adapting his or her leadership style have any effect on
followers? In other words, would a leader with a high concern for task differ from a leader with a
high concern for relationships?
8. How well defined is the developmental level of followers in the SLII® model? What outside
influences might affect followers’ commitment or competence?
10. Are seasoned workers permanently at the D4 level? How well does the SLII® model fit the
work experience of an employee who’s held the same position for 20 years?
11. If a leader uses a different style of leadership with each of his followers, how might that lead
to perceptions of favoritism? What could a leader do to avoid such impressions while still
being adaptable to follower needs?
12. How might the situational approach be affected by the number of followers that a leader has?
13. How easy is it for you to vary your leadership style?
14. If a leader matches his or her style to the overall developmental level of the group he or she is
15. How can leaders simultaneously adapt their leadership styles to the development levels of
individual group members and to the group as a whole?
16. Why wouldn’t the coaching style be effective in every situation?
18. Compare the findings of various studies by Vecchio and colleagues of the validity of the