In-house leadership training · Blanchard Authorized Partner
SLII® Training: A Situational Approach to Leadership for Your Managers
Give your managers and leaders one shared, practical way to lead every person on their team. Our one-day SLII® programme teaches them to diagnose what each person needs on each goal, then provide the right mix of direction and support. Delivered at your premises or live online by an SLII® Qualified Facilitator.
- The world-renowned SLII® Model from Blanchard, delivered by an Authorized Partner
- One-day programme for a team of managers or leaders from your organisation
- Includes the LBAII® Self Assessment, so every leader sees how they lead today
- Practical from start to finish: real goals, real people, real conversations
What is SLII®?
One leadership style doesn't fit everyone
SLII® is Blanchard's model for leading people according to what they need, goal by goal. The idea is simple: there is no single best way to lead. A new starter learning a task needs clear direction. An experienced person who has lost confidence needs support and encouragement. A real expert needs room to get on with it.
SLII® gives your leaders a practical way to work out which is which, and to change their leadership style to match. It is one of the world's most widely used leadership models, and it gives your managers a common language for one-to-ones, goal setting and development conversations.
If you have been searching for situational leadership training for your managers, SLII® is the modern, research-based version from Blanchard, and we deliver it as an Authorized Partner.
See SLII® in action
Why leaders need a situational approach
A five-minute introduction from Blanchard to how SLII® helps leaders give people the direction and support they need.
Video: The Power of SLII®, © Blanchard.
The four leadership styles
Match the style to the person and the goal
In SLII®, a person's development level depends on their competence and commitment on a specific goal or task. Leaders learn four styles, each a different blend of directive and supportive behaviour, and when to use each one.
High direction, low support. The leader sets clear goals, shows how and checks progress closely.
For D1: low competence, high commitment.
High direction and high support. The leader keeps explaining, while listening, encouraging and involving.
For D2: low to some competence, low commitment.
Low direction, high support. The leader listens, asks questions and builds confidence to decide.
For D3: moderate to high competence, variable commitment.
Low direction, low support. The leader trusts, empowers and recognises results.
For D4: high competence, high commitment.
Want more detail and examples? Read our guide to the four leadership styles in SLII®.
Why it matters
Too much leadership, or too little, costs you performance
Most managers default to one or two styles. That works for some people and quietly fails others. SLII® helps leaders spot and avoid the two most common mistakes.
Over-supervision
Micromanaging capable people. It frustrates your best performers, slows decisions and stops people growing. Often the reason good people leave.
Under-supervision
Leaving people alone too early. New or struggling team members flounder, mistakes multiply and motivation drops, often without the manager noticing.
What clients say about SLII®
The skills taught … support exactly the kind of skills we want our managers to use.
Georgina Huntley, Head of Employee Career and Development, ManpowerGroup UK
From a Blanchard client story about ManpowerGroup UK's blended leadership programme, which included SLII®.
How SLII® works
Three skills your leaders practise all day
Goal setting
Agree clear, specific and trackable goals, so leader and team member both know what good looks like.
Diagnosing
Assess a person's competence and commitment on each goal to identify their development level, D1 to D4.
Matching
Use the leadership style that gives the right amount of direction and support for that development level.
Learning outcomes
What your managers will be able to do
- Explain the SLII® Model and the four leadership styles in plain language
- Recognise the impact of over-supervision and under-supervision on their team
- Set specific and trackable goals with each team member
- Diagnose development level for a specific goal or task
- Provide the matching leadership style, flexing direction and support
- Understand their own style preferences from their LBAII® feedback
- Hold better one-to-one conversations using a shared SLII® language
- Leave with an action plan for real people and goals on their team
Who it's for
Built for teams of managers and leaders
New and first-line managers
A simple, memorable framework for leading people from day one, instead of copying how they were managed.
Experienced managers
A way to stop defaulting to one style, get more from capable people and support those who are struggling.
Senior and leadership teams
A shared leadership language across the organisation, so expectations and conversations are consistent.
What's included
- Pre-course call to understand your team and goals
- LBAII® Self Assessment and personal report for every leader
- Official SLII® participant materials
- SLII® At a Glance reference card to keep
- Full day led by a Blanchard SLII® Qualified Facilitator
- Practice using your own people, goals and situations
- Personal action plans and tools to apply SLII® at work
Delivery options
At your premises or live online
One day at your premises
We come to you anywhere in the UK. Ideal for building a shared leadership language in the room, with plenty of practice and discussion. We can also arrange a venue in London.
Interactive virtual sessions
The same SLII® content and practice delivered live over Teams or Zoom, split into shorter sessions. Ideal for leaders spread across sites or working remotely.
Download the SLII® overview
A one-page summary of The SLII Experience™ and its outcomes, ready to share with HR, L&D or your leadership team.
Download the overview (PDF)Price on consultation: we'll recommend the right format and group size and send a clear, fixed quote. Want SLII® as one part of a longer programme? It fits naturally within our management training programmes.
Why train with us
An accredited Blanchard partner, focused on your managers
Blanchard Authorized Partner
We are accredited by Blanchard to deliver SLII® with official materials and assessments, so your leaders get the genuine programme.
SLII® Qualified Facilitator
Your session is led by a facilitator qualified by Blanchard to deliver The SLII Experience™, with years of experience developing UK managers.
Practical, not theoretical
We tailor examples and practice to your organisation, so leaders apply SLII® to real goals and real people the next day.
Questions
SLII® training FAQs
What is SLII®?
SLII® is Blanchard's leadership model. It teaches leaders to diagnose each person's development level on a specific goal, based on their competence and commitment, and then use the matching leadership style: Directing, Coaching, Supporting or Delegating.
Is SLII® the same as Situational Leadership®?
No. Situational Leadership® was the original model developed by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard in the late 1960s. Ken Blanchard and his colleagues went on to develop SLII®, building on decades of research and practice. Today SLII® is Blanchard's model, and it's the one we deliver as a Blanchard Authorized Partner. If you're looking for situational leadership training for your managers, SLII® is the modern, research-based approach.
SLII® is a registered trademark of The Ken Blanchard Companies. Situational Leadership® is a registered trademark of The Center for Leadership Studies.
How long is the training?
One full day in person, or the equivalent as shorter live online sessions. Every participant also completes the LBAII® Self Assessment online before the day, which takes about 20 minutes.
What is the LBAII® Self Assessment?
The LBAII® is Blanchard's leadership style assessment. It shows each leader which styles they tend to use, how flexible they are and how well they match style to need. We review the results during the day.
Can you deliver SLII® training online?
Yes. We deliver live, interactive online sessions over Teams or Zoom with the same content, materials and practice as the in-person day.
How many people can attend?
SLII® training is delivered in-house for a team of managers or leaders from your organisation. Tell us how many people you'd like to train and we'll recommend the best group sizes and number of sessions.
How much does SLII® training cost?
Price is on consultation, because it depends on group size, format and location. It includes facilitation, the LBAII® Self Assessment and official participant materials. Call 0207 101 3619 or send an enquiry and we'll send a fixed quote.
Do you deliver SLII® outside London?
Yes. We're based in London and deliver in-house SLII® training at client premises across the UK, as well as live online.
Powering Inspired Leaders™
Bring SLII® to your managers
Tell us about your team and what you want your leaders to do differently. We'll recommend the right format and send a clear quote.
Enquire about SLII® trainingCall 0207 101 3619SLII®, The SLII Experience™, LBAII® and Powering Inspired Leaders™ are trademarks of The Ken Blanchard Companies. SLII® is a registered trademark of The Ken Blanchard Companies. Situational Leadership® is a registered trademark of The Center for Leadership Studies. The Learning and Development Company is a Blanchard Authorized Partner.
