a contingency theory of leadership suggesting that successful leaders use varying amounts of directive (task-motivated) and supportive (relationship-motivated) leadership, depending on the job maturity (e.g., experience, ability, knowledge) and psychological maturity (e.g., level of motivation, willingness to accept responsibility) of followers. [proposed by U.S. management theorists Paul Hersey (1931–2012) and Kenneth H. Blanchard (1939– )]