Discuss the substitutes for leadership model. Define substitutes and neutralizers, and provide examples of each.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Student answers will vary but should demonstrate understanding of the substitutes for leadership model, substitutes, and neutralizers. A sample answer follows.

The substitutes for leadership model suggests that certain characteristics of the situation can constrain the influence of the leader, making it more difficult for the leader to influence employee performance. Those situational characteristics come in two varieties. Substitutes reduce the importance of the leader while simultaneously providing a direct benefit to employee performance. For example, a cohesive work group can provide its own sort of governing behaviors, making the leader less relevant, while providing its own source of motivation and job satisfaction. Neutralizers, in contrast, only reduce the importance of the leader; they themselves have no beneficial impact on performance. For example, spatial distance lessens the impact of a leader's behaviors and styles, but distance itself has no direct benefit for employee job performance.