Attitude and Behavior.
In looking at leadership style the focus is on behavior. There is a distant difference behavior and attitude. Behavior is what leaders say and do. An attitude is a feeling, value, or concern for or against something. It is a person’s behavior that will evoke a response in someone else.
It is difficult to predict a behavior from an attitude. People who have similar attitudes or value sets about something may engage in a variety of different behaviors. For example, people who have a high concern for the problems in urban areas can act in different ways. Some avoid the issues altogether. Others provide sympathy and encouragement. Still others get activity involved and provide direction and guidance in an attempt to make changes. The same high concern evoked different behaviors. It is the behavior of people that impacts others, not their attitudes.
It is important for leaders, whether they be managers, leaders, or parents, to have a high concern for both end results and people. In order to capitalize on this high concern, a variety of leadership styles are needed to adapt to the different situations or problems a leader faces.
~ Dr. Paul Hersey, The Situational Leader