Ask Rob: What Are the Advantages of Situational Leadership?

·15 min·1 clip

Rob Fonte shares how his son's bike lesson turned into a circus with one kid crying in timeout and another on the ground.

This solo episode of Leadership Jam Session features host Rob Fonte answering a question from a new manager named Sarah about the value of situational leadership training. Rob Fonte is a certified leadership coach and consultant whose company partners with the Ken Blanchard Group. He presents situational leadership as a fundamental, practical framework for managers at any level. Fonte explains he teaches many courses but consistently returns to situational leadership as the backbone of leadership, especially for skill development in confidence and motivation. He outlines the model's core premise: learners progress through four distinct development levels for any new task. To illustrate, he shares a detailed story about teaching his twin sons, Felix and Oscar, to ride bicycles without training wheels. He maps each son's experience to the model's levels: enthusiastic beginner (D1), disillusioned learner (D2), capable but cautious performer (D3), and self-reliant achiever (D4). Fonte notes that even seasoned executives he coaches often have gaps related to this model. A key insight is that managers commonly misapply a one-size-fits-all approach, assuming an employee skilled in one area is skilled in all. Fonte emphasizes that introducing any new task resets an employee's development level, requiring a matching shift in leadership style from directive teaching to supportive coaching. He admits that despite teaching this for a decade, he still makes the mistake of over-generalizing an individual's capabilities. The model applies psychologically because employees may hide their lack of knowledge, so leaders must be observant and ask probing questions. The tone is conversational and instructive, blending personal anecdote with professional coaching advice. Fonte's style is enthusiastic and relatable, using a family story to demystify a business concept. New managers like Sarah would find this episode highly valuable for its clear introduction to a foundational management tool. Seasoned leaders might also appreciate the reminder to avoid assumptions and adapt their style. Listeners seeking highly theoretical or debate-driven content might find the straightforward, example-driven explanation too basic.

As heard by us

A practical case for matching leadership style to where people actually are.

Rob Fonte uses a solo episode to answer a new manager's question about situational leadership. The point is simple enough, but he earns it by pushing back on the easy habit of treating every skill as if it transfers everywhere.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Need a clearer way to coach people without guessing?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Leadership Jam Session