Question

According to the path-goal theory of leadership, the directive leadership style will work well when:

a) Employees know exactly how to perform their jobs, but their jobs are new.
b) Employees have both high levels of ability and high levels of achievement.
c) Employees have high levels of ability, and when the decisions made are personally relevant to them.
d) Employees are experiencing role ambiguity on the job.

Answer 1

The directive leadership style outlined in the path-goal theory is effective when employees face role ambiguity and need clear guidance to perform their tasks effectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the path-goal theory of leadership, the directive leadership style is best suited for situations where employees are experiencing role ambiguity on the job. The directive leader provides clear instructions and expectations, thereby reducing confusion and uncertainty among team members. This style works less effectively when individuals already have a strong understanding of their responsibilities or require autonomy to be productive. A directive approach is beneficial when followers need structured guidance to navigate through their tasks, which is more likely the case when there's role ambiguity, rather than when employees are seasoned or desire personal involvement in decisions that are relevant to them.