Path-goal theory is not an original theory, it’s just a leader’s style and way to maintain the perfect balance of the work environment. This style helps employees and team leaders to work more efficiently toward achieving mutual goals.
Also, in path-goal theory, leaders have to choose a process that suits their employees and their work environment the most.
WHAT’S IN IT
What is the Path-Goal theory origin?
Martin G Evans’ work inspired this theory. Path goal theory brings about the specific behaviour according to their team members.
This behaviour will help the team to boost productivity. It should be noted that the path-goal theory is based on the working environment of team members.
The path-goal theory helps the team members to guide employees on their path through their work environment. Doing this will help the employees to maintain a good work environment and boost productivity.
Also, this theory concludes that a leader can adapt the path-goal theory according to their situation to situation. And you the path-goal theory idea from other leaders’ teams.
It’s the leader’s responsibility to show the path to employees and show the direction to their employees and precious support that they may need in difficult conditions.
Leaders should ensure that their precious support helps the team members to boost their productivity.
What is the Path-Goal Theory Styles
The path-goal theory should be based on the leader’s style and working environment of team members. This theory increases satisfaction, motivation, and inspiration in your team members. And when your team members are inspired, motivated and organized they will automatically boost their work culture.
Team members’ satisfaction depends on the leader’s performance. A low level of leadership performance will hamper the team members’ satisfaction. The original path-goal theory has four pillars or style. Here are all four pillars of path-goal theory.
- The path-goal theory is a specified condition to condition. Varying in the conditions will vary the path-goal procedure. It should be clear from the team members’ side that what leader is wanted from them and leaders should tell them how they can achieve the specified task.
This theory also concludes that clear and concise communication helps to increase satisfaction in team members.
- Leadership achievement-oriented behavior is referred to as the condition in which leaders set goals, expectations. Leaders doing this to boost team members’ confidence level at achieving a given task with the highest level of skills.
- This theory also involves leaders in consulting their team members before taking any decision. And this behavior is very important when you include your teammates in the unimportant task.
- The supportive nature of team leaders should be directed toward team members satisfaction, preference and needs. The leaders should pay attention to team leader psychological conditions and never force them to do some task.
How to Use Path-Goal Theory in Practical Life
It is not rocket science to apply this theory in real life. If you know your team situation and their needs you can automatically adapt this theory to your work schedule.
But if you still don’t know how and when to apply this theory then we will recommend you to figure out your team expectations from you and their needs.
After figuring out what they need and their expectations you can follow this advice.
- Sometimes your team members will face or feel that they are suffering from a lack of challenges in their job or task. For this situation, we will recommend you to hand over some challenging tasks to them.
- Your direct leadership will help them to achieve the task. Also, it helps workers or team members to maintain a comfortable environment.
- Your participative leadership is very important when your team members are taking the wrong way. Or taking the wrong step. In this case, your leadership can show the right path which is directed towards their success. And their success automatically leads to your success.
- Maintaining good communication in your team is also very important along with guidance and leadership.
- In the case your team is new or they don’t have a good experience then will recommend you to apply supportive leadership.
Some Advice for Path-Goal Theory
Path goal theory automatically assumes that every leader situation is different. And leaders are flexible and open enough to accept and manage the changes that their team requires most.
Additionally, this theory depends on two variables which is team members employment and team members nature. And these variables will boost the outcome of productivity and relationship too.
It should be noted that the outcome of the environment is out of the control of the follower. Leaders also include the task structure, workgroup and authority system in the environment.
In this case, if you want to boost the productivity of your team members then the work environment is a must to modify and handle.
Characteristics such as experience, focus on control and perceived ability can help you to change that work environment.
Factors for Path-Goal Theory
Factors such as personal team member attitude are also interfaced in the environment between the team leader and team members.
Effective or good leaders identify the path, show that path to their team members.
It is also important for a good leader to clear all the roadblock and hurdles which impact the activity of your team members by blocking their paths.
Many research concludes that doing this will help to strengthen the leader and team leader relationship.
Also, according to the same research, it is found that employee satisfaction and employees performance are influenced positively on leader business too.
Overall, this theory helps the leader and their team members to empower the satisfaction that they need. And expect from their work and your leadership.
Also, this theory helps you to boost the productivity of your team by showing and helping your team members to reach that goal.
Conclusion
Path goal theory is very important for you if you are a team leader who is looking to boost the productivity of team members. This behavior will help the team to boost productivity.
It should be noted that this theory is based on the working environment of team members.
This theory concludes that a leader can adapt the path-goal theory according to their situation to situation. And you this theory idea from other leaders’ teams.
It’s the leader’s responsibility to show the path to employees and show the direction to their employees and precious support that they may need in difficult conditions.
Also, you can read our blog on Everything about Transformational Leadership | 2021