Need for Supervision

This article argues that the need for supervision among subordinates is a concept that can help to differentiate between circumstances in which leaders do and do not affect subordinate behavior. Need for supervision is defined as a contextual need, the salience of which depends on situational factors. A theoretical model is presented in which need for supervision depends on situational factors known from situational leadership theories and moderates the relationship between leadership styles and outcome variables. Two studies of insurance agents provide evidence for the reliability and construct validity of a scale designed to measure need for supervision. Moderated regression analysis shows that need for supervision moderates the relationship between task-oriented leadership and work stress, but not between task-oriented leadership and job satisfaction. A robust relationship between human-oriented leadership and job satisfaction is found, not affected by the need for supervision. Need for supervision seems to be a fruitful concept that deserves further research.