NCJ Number
170686
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1997) Pages: 74,76-77,79,81-82,84,86
Date Published
1997
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article explains a model of "situational leadership" as the recommended leadership strategy for implementing community- oriented policing and problem solving (COPPS).
Abstract
Leading in a vacuum is obsolete; the more dynamic COPPS environment requires greater flexibility. To be effective, police supervisors must depart from their dominant leadership style and modify their behavior situationally, depending on the leader, the follower, and the situation. The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Model not only incorporates these contingencies, but provides an approach that uniquely integrates with those used in COPPS. As such, it shows great promise for police agencies using or contemplating COPPS. "Situational leadership" advocates a follower-driven approach to leadership. Rather than using a dominant style no matter what, the leader assesses followers' readiness to perform in relation to a particular situation and then modifies his/her style to that which optimizes the probability of successful follower performance. There is no "one best style." Instead, leadership style is a function of the leader, follower, and the situation. Because situational leadership and problem solving use virtually identical processes, their convergence produces many direct and indirect benefits in the transition to COPPS. 6 notes