Final answer:
The Ohio State University Behavioral Leadership Model outlines two main dimensions of leader behavior: consideration and initiating structure. Leaders are analyzed based on their position on these dimensions, with those high in both often seen as most effective. This model contributes to the foundation for contingency approaches to leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ohio State University Behavioral Leadership Model is a framework for understanding leadership based on the behavioral patterns exhibited by leaders. In this model, two primary dimensions of leader behavior were identified: consideration and initiating structure. Consideration refers to the degree to which a leader shows concern and respect for their followers, communicates effectively, and establishes a warm and supportive climate. Initiating structure, on the other hand, involves the extent to which a leader is concerned with defining tasks, delineating clear objectives, and establishing well-organized patterns and channels of communication and procedures.
Leaders are analyzed based on their position on these two dimensions, which can vary independently, thus enabling the identification of different leadership styles. A leader high in both consideration and initiating structure is often seen as the most effective. It's worth noting that the Ohio State University model helped in paving the way for more nuanced theories that articulate a contingency approach to leadership, recognizing that the most effective leadership style can vary according to the situation at hand.