Achievement-Oriented Leadership

Definition

Achievement-oriented leadership is a leadership style in which the leader sets challenging goals, expects subordinates to perform at their highest level, and demonstrates confidence in the team's abilities to achieve those goals. This leadership approach is particularly relevant in the context of situational (contingency) approaches to leadership.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Achievement-oriented leadership is characterized by the leader setting challenging goals, maintaining high performance standards, and expressing confidence in the team's abilities to meet those standards.
2. This leadership style is most effective when subordinates are capable and motivated, and the task is complex and unstructured, as is often the case in dynamic organizational environments.
3. Achievement-oriented leadership aligns with the Path-Goal Theory, which suggests that leaders should adopt a style that best fits the situation and subordinate characteristics to help subordinates achieve their goals.
4. The leader's confidence in the team's abilities and the challenging goals set can increase subordinates' expectancy that their efforts will lead to desired outcomes, as suggested by Expectancy Theory.
5. Situational leadership models, such as the Hersey-Blanchard model, suggest that achievement-oriented leadership is most appropriate for subordinates who are competent and committed (high readiness level).

Review Questions

• Explain how achievement-oriented leadership relates to the Path-Goal Theory of leadership.
  • The achievement-oriented leadership style aligns with the Path-Goal Theory, which suggests that leaders should adopt a style that best fits the situation and subordinate characteristics to help subordinates achieve their goals. In the case of achievement-oriented leadership, the leader sets challenging goals, maintains high performance standards, and expresses confidence in the team's abilities. This approach is most effective when subordinates are capable and motivated, and the task is complex and unstructured, as the leader can help subordinates navigate the path to achieving their goals.
• Analyze how achievement-oriented leadership influences subordinates' motivation according to Expectancy Theory.
  • Expectancy Theory suggests that individuals are motivated to perform when they believe their efforts will lead to desired outcomes and that those outcomes are valuable to them. Achievement-oriented leadership, with its emphasis on setting challenging goals and expressing confidence in the team's abilities, can increase subordinates' expectancy that their efforts will lead to the desired outcomes. By demonstrating belief in the team's capabilities and providing a clear path to achieving challenging goals, the leader can enhance subordinates' motivation and drive them to perform at their highest level.
• Evaluate the situational factors that make achievement-oriented leadership an appropriate leadership style according to the Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership model.
  • The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership model suggests that the most effective leadership style depends on the readiness level of the followers and the task at hand. Achievement-oriented leadership is most appropriate for subordinates who are competent and committed (high readiness level) and are working on complex, unstructured tasks. In these situations, the leader's ability to set challenging goals, maintain high performance standards, and express confidence in the team's abilities can help subordinates navigate the path to achieving their goals. This leadership style aligns with the needs of capable and motivated subordinates, allowing them to thrive in dynamic organizational environments.

Related terms

Path-Goal Theory: A leadership theory that focuses on how leaders can help subordinates achieve their goals by selecting appropriate leadership styles based on the situation and subordinate characteristics.

Expectancy Theory: A motivation theory that suggests individuals are motivated to perform when they believe their efforts will lead to desired outcomes and that those outcomes are valuable to them.

Situational Leadership: A leadership approach that suggests the most effective leadership style depends on the readiness level of the followers and the task at hand.