ALL about Leadership Continuum

Summary, forum, best practices, expert tips and resources.

All about Leadership Continuum and 1000 other management tools. Completely free.

12manage is a knowledge sharing platform about management with over 1 million participants. Click for more info...

What is the Leadership Continuum? Description

According to the Leadership Continuum model of R. Tannenbaum and W.H. Schmidt (1973) an autocratic leader will likely make his own decisions. He will not delegate to his subordinates. Whereas a more democratic leader (laissez-faire manager) gives subordinates a greater degree of delegation in decision-making.

In 1938, Lewin and Lippitt proposed classifications of leaders. These were based on how much involvement leaders placed onto task and relationship needs. These types of leadership behavior were expressed in 1973 along a continuum by Tannenbaum & Schmidt. The spectrum ranges from boss-centered (task) to subordinate-centered (relationship).

Forces to consider for Leaders

To choose the most appropriate style and use of authority, the leader should take into consideration: Leadership Continuum

Forces in the manager: belief in team member participation and confidence in capabilities of members. Compare: Theory of Needs
Forces in the subordinate person: subordinates who are independent, tolerant of ambiguity, competent, identify with organizational goals.
Forces in the situation:
- the team has requisite knowledge.
- the team has organizational values and traditions.
- the team works effectively.
Time pressure: need for immediate decision under pressure. Mitigates against participation.

Advantages of the Leadership Continuum Model. Benefits

Gives managers a range of choices for involvement.
Presents criteria for involvement and delegation.
Focuses the decision maker on relevant criteria (e.g. forces & time).
Emphasizes employee development and empowerment.
Is heuristic. Encourages research to see how effective delegation may be under the model.

Limitations of the Leadership Continuum. Disadvantages

Involves only the initial step of assigning a task to someone, not the following processes that may determine the effectiveness of the outcome.
Assumes that the manager has sufficient information to determine the disposition to himself or to the team.
Assumes "neutral" environment without social bonds or politics.
Simplifies complex decisions towards a two-polar dimension; more simple than the reality is.

Leadership Continuum Special Interest Group

Special Interest Group (445 members)

Forum about Leadership Continuum

Discussions about Leadership Continuum.

🔥	NEW How to Combine Employee Empowerment with Operational Discipline? Gulati's 3P Framework According to Professor Ranjay Gulati, executives and managers have trouble resolving the tension between employee empowe (...)

	Substitutes for Leadership (Kerr and Jermier) There are a wide range of leadership theories that explain particular traits, behaviors and activities needed for leader (...)

	Leaders are the Heads not the Tails of the Organization There are many leadership styles and leaders give direction to their employees and make good decisions in many ways. The (...)

Best Practices about Leadership Continuum

Here you find the most valuable discussions from the past.

🥇	Combination of Tannenbaum and Schmidt Continuum with Tuckman Stages You can combine the Leadership Continuum with the Team Development Stages of Tuckman. Plotting onto the Tannenbaum and (...)

🥈	Leadership Succession. Ensuring Continuity of Leadership The leader is one who ensures leadership continuity for a long haul. Therefore he must have an uncanny ability to indent (...)

🥉	Leadership Continuum or Management Continuum? The Leadership Continuum Model shows management styles from "autocratic" to "full control". Most managers do not make go (...)

	Leadership is all about Decision making As far as decision-making is the main subject of leadership, other issues such as delegation and relationships remain se (...)

	Laissez Faire versus Democratic Leaders A Democratic leader Involves team in decision making, consults and then takes a call whereas A Laissez Faire leader has (...)

	Force Field = 5 Levels of Management The summary of the five levels of management to arrive at level 5 managers(Collins) has some similarity to the forcefiel (...)

Expert Tips about Leadership Continuum

Here you will find advices by experts.

	LEADER: Best Practices for Effective Leadership Behavior Leadership Behavior, Leadership Effectiveness, Leadership Style (...)

	The Relationship between the Power of Leaders and Overconfidence Leadership, Power, Leadership Development, Executive Education (...)

	How Should CEOs Manage and Communicate the Main Messages? Strategic Communication, Leader Skills, Communication Skills, Leader Perspective (...)

	Loved and Feared Leaders Another Continuum (...)

Information Sources about Leadership Continuum

Here you will find powerpoints, videos, news, etc.

	How to Become a Master Manager? Introduction to Managing People. Know Thyself (...)

	Cultural Differences Directive vs Supportive Leader (...)

	The Fatal Coaching Mistake by Managers Coaching, Mentoring, Management, Leadership (...)

	10 Leadership Theories in a Nutshell Leadership Theories Overview, Leadership Development, Management Development, Leadership Styles, Coaching, Mentoring (...)

	Young Steve Jobs on the Role of Managers Management, Leadership, Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Talent Development (...)

	How to Achieve Employee Engagement Employee Empowerment, Employee Participation, Participative Management, Participative Leadership (...)

	Leadership Continuum Diagram Comparing autocratic vs. democratic leaders (...)

Return to Management Hub: Communication & Skills | Decision-making & Valuation | Human Resources | Leadership

More Management Methods, Models and Theory

Special Interest Group Leader

Are you an expert in this field? Sign up for free