Shallow gradient

Generally-speaking, shallow gradients are good for creating a healthy team climate. They can generate solutions when the problem is unclear or where the remedy is not routine or obvious.

Shallow gradients, where the leader is approachable, make people confident to speak up if there is a problem and more likely to engage in a constructive challenge in the patient’s interest.

Steep gradient

Steep gradients are often appropriate in a crisis or where immediate action is required, where the leader uses their authority to make rapid decisions and direct what needs to happen. However, this may add risk because the decision-maker is making decisions alone, without input from his or her team which could be beneficial.

Implications

In a shallow Authority Gradient team, the sense of being valued will provide the team with a vital pool of goodwill. This would become very useful when the leader needed to exert steep authority in particular circumstances.

In contrast, if something goes wrong in a team with a steep Authority Gradient, the team members are unlikely to respond to the sudden request to share their concerns.