How would you define the two types of leadership styles in the Ohio State model? According to the model, what combination of the two styles should be used?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In contrast to the above perspectives, researchers at Ohio State argued that leaders could be high on both of their two dimensions: consideration and initiating structure (Hemphill & Coons, 1957; Fleishman, 1973). The Ohio State researchers argue that leaders show consideration when they support employees’ needs by being friendly, caring about the employees’ personal welfare, and listening to their suggestions and concerns. Leaders are high in initiating structure when they explain work roles, specify how to do the work, assign tasks and schedule production, and set high performance standards. Their model suggests that consideration increases job satisfaction and commitment, whereas initiating structure improves task performance. This model is sometimes called the High-High Model because these researchers recommend that leaders should do high amounts of both consideration and initiating structure. However, although the Ohio State researchers generally recommend being high on both dimensions, many leaders and corporate cultures tend to be high on only one dimension.