Episode Details

How can leaders adapt their approach to give people what they need in each specific situation? In this episode, Kevin is joined by Suzie Bishop and Sam Shriver to revisit situational leadership and discuss why this decades-old model may be more relevant than ever. They explain how effective leadership begins by clearly identifying the task, skill, or behavior involved, then assessing an individual's ability, confidence, commitment, and motivation before choosing the right leadership response. Kevin, Suzie, and Sam discuss why no leadership style is inherently good or bad, how empowerment can feel like abandonment and direction can feel like micromanagement when misapplied, and why leaders must step beyond their comfort zones to serve others' needs.

0:00 Why Situational Leadership still matters after 50 years 3:13 Why write this book now 5:17 The big idea: adaptability 6:50 What "situational" actually means 8:11 How the model got typecast — and where it's expanded 12:55 The primer: task, readiness, and the R1–R4 scale 15:49 Where leaders get "style" wrong 23:15 "Power is the battery of leadership" 25:56 Leading through disruptive change 28:34 Situational leadership in the age of AI 32:12 The best next step for your organization 36:11 What are you reading?

About Suzie & Sam Suzie Bishop and Sam Shriver are the authors of Situational Leadership®: The Model for Leading Others, Navigating Change, and Unlocking Performance. Suzie is an established leader in workplace education and leadership development, currently serving as Vice President of Product Development at The Center for Leadership Studies (CLS). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Media from North Carolina State University. A Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM) and Stakeholder Centered Coach, Suzie is also a Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coach and a Thirty Under Thirty Leader recognized by Elliot Masie. Sam has over 45 years of experience with the Situational Leadership® Model, executive coaching, human behavior, and leadership development. A frequent contributor to industry publications, Sam also co-authors a leadership column with Marshall Goldsmith for Training Industry Magazine and publishes regular blogs, white papers, and articles on emerging trends in learning and development. His work has been recognized by Bersin, Brandon Hall, and the Association for Talent Development. Deeply inspired by his team's commitment to delivering transformative learning experiences, Sam focuses on reintroducing the Situational Leadership® Model to the next generation of leaders to help them build meaningful impact within their organizations.

CONNECT WITH Suzie Bishop and Sam Shriver Website: https://situational.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzie-bishop/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-shriver-6479763/

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Situational Leadership: The Model for Leading Others, Navigating Change, and Unlocking Performance by Sam Shriver and Suzie Bishop
• Management of Organizational Behavior by Paul Hersey, Kenneth H. Blanchard, and Dewey E. Johnson

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