Supporting Leadership Style

The Supporting Leadership Style was first described by Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard in the late 1960s.  The Supporting leader passes along the day-to-day task-related decisions to the follower.  In addition, the followers and the supporting leader jointly participate in making decisions, sometimes carrying them out together.

The supporting leadership style is used in groups that are not yet comfortable in making decisions, but the followers have the ability to do the job. The leader should support the followers when they are disappointed in progress.