Situational theory focuses on follower characteristics as the key situational element in determining effective leadership. The theory proposes that a leader's style should depend on follower readiness, with telling, selling, participating, and delegating styles being used for followers with low, moderate, high, and very high readiness respectively. The Hersey-Blanchard model depicts leadership styles based on the amount of task-oriented and relationship-oriented behavior a leader exhibits, with the optimal style dependent on follower willingness and ability.