Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

Leadership that requires a balance between task orientation and relationship orientation is known as what?

1. Transformational leadership

2. Situational leadership

3. Transactional leadership

4. Path-Goal leadership

The correct answer is: Path-Goal leadership

The concept being described is best characterized by Path-Goal leadership. This leadership style focuses on the leader's role in navigating the path toward achieving goals and emphasizes the need for the leader to be adaptable in their approach, balancing both the task-oriented and relationship-oriented aspects. In Path-Goal leadership, the leader provides direction and support to help followers achieve their goals while also fostering positive relationships and morale within the team. This dual focus enables leaders to adjust their leadership style based on the specific needs of their team members and the challenges they face, ensuring both task completion and a supportive work environment. The other styles mentioned do not inherently emphasize this balance between task and relationship orientation in the same way. For instance, transformational leadership primarily emphasizes inspiring and motivating followers to achieve greater levels of performance. Situational leadership showcases the need for adaptability depending on the follower's maturity level, but it does not explicitly balance task and relationship orientation. Transactional leadership focuses more on structured tasks and rewards based on performance, which doesn’t necessarily consider the importance of relationship-building within the team.