HROB 2010 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Expectancy Theory, Institute For Operations Research And The Management Sciences

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour
• Course: HROB 2010
• Professor: Michelle Bowring

Document Summary

Path goal theory is about how leaders motivate followers to accomplish designated goals. The stated goal of this leadership theory is to enhance follower performance and follower satisfaction by focusing on follower motivation. In contrast to the situational approach, which suggests that a leader must adapt to the developmental level of followers, path-goal theory emphasizes the relationship (cid:271)et(cid:449)ee(cid:374) the leader(cid:859)s style a(cid:374)d the (cid:272)hara(cid:272)teristi(cid:272)s of the follo(cid:449)ers a(cid:374)d the organizational setting. For the leader, the i(cid:373)perati(cid:448)e is to use a leadership style that (cid:271)est (cid:373)eets follo(cid:449)ers(cid:859) motivational needs. According to house and mitchell, leadership generates motivation when it increases the number and kinds of payoffs that followers receive from their work. Leadership also motivates when it makes the path to the goal clear and easy to travel through coaching and direction, removing obstacles and roadblocks to attaining the goal, and making the work itself more personally satisfying.