Contingency Theory posits that leaders must be matched to the situation that best fits their leadership style.

• A. A leadership theory that states that in order to maximize work group performance, leaders must be matched to the situation that best fits their leadership style.
• B. Power is shared
• C. Group norms determine success
• D. Leadership is purely based on charisma

Answer: (A)

Contingency theory holds that leadership effectiveness depends on aligning the leader's style with the demands of the situation. The best answer states that leaders must be matched to the situation that best fits their leadership style to maximize work group performance, which captures the essential idea: different contexts call for different leadership approaches, and success comes from choosing the style that fits the task, relationships, and power dynamics at hand. The other statements describe other perspectives: power being shared points to distributed leadership, group norms determining success emphasizes cultural or normative factors, and leadership being purely based on charisma reflects a trait-based view that ignores situational fit.