Path-Goal Leadership Theory refers to the influence that leaders have on the decisions and lives of their followers. This theory was developed by Robert House and Martins Evans in 1971 and focuses on the responsibility of leaders in helping their subordinates to choose and follow paths that will allow them to achieve their goals efficiently and quickly. This is because the leader must influence them to make choices that reduce obstacles, pitfalls, difficulties and the longest paths, providing the subordinates' full satisfaction with their trajectories and achievements.
The theory of focus on the relationship between leader and subordinate. Because only a good relationship between them will be able to generate that level of trust.
In addition to the good relationship, within this theory the leader must choose between four types of leadership. That choice will depend on the results he wants to obtain and the situation in which he is inserted. The types of leadership are:
Director: This leader has a responsibility to create standards and expectations.
Support: This type of leadership is established by the exposure of care and concern for the well-being of subordinates.
Participative: The leader establishes frequent communication among the members of his team, consulting his suggestions and opinions.
Oriented by Achievement: The leader tends to be bold and to create challenging goals, but promotes teamwork and has a good ability to optimize activities by creating high expectations.
