The contingency theories of effective leadership have at least one predictor variable such as leadership behavior, at least one dependent outcome variable such as subordinate satisfaction or performance, and one or more situational variable.

Contingency theories of leadership argue that the effectiveness of a leader's behavior is contingent upon situational factors, including the leadership style, the followers' characteristics, and various aspects of the situation. These theories indeed involve at least one predictor variable (e.g., leadership behavior), at least one dependent outcome variable (e.g., subordinate satisfaction or performance), and one or more situational variables that moderate the relationship between leadership behavior and its outcomes.