The concepts of contingency theory complement self-leadership practices from
multiple perspectives. First, the contingency approach is normative in purpose, similar to
that of self-leadership. Northhouse (2004) explained that "contingency theory is
predictive and therefore provides useful information regarding the type of leadership that
will most likely be effective in certain contexts" (p. 113). Second, the self-leader knows
that he or she can't do everything personally and understands the need to cultivate a
learning culture in which others learn to lead themselves (Manz & Sims, 2001, p. 3). The
self-leadership practice of encouraging others to lead themselves fits with Northhouse's
(2004) philosophy that contingency theory is "advantageous because it does not require
that people be effective in all situations. So often leaders in organizations feel they need
to be all things to all people, which may be asking too much of leaders" (p. 113). Selfleaders
know that the measure of their success is achieved through the results of the
people they work with (Manz & Sims, 2001, p. 3).