Styles of leadership
Autocratic
Autocratic style of leadership involves:
- managers making all the decisions without consulting with employees
- decisions are made from the top down
- employees are told what to do
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| decisions are made quickly | employees ideas and creativity might not be considered |
| decisions made by the most experienced members of the organisation | employees may become demotivated by lack of input or responsibility |
| employees have clear instructions of requirements | amount of decision making can be stressful for managers |
| Advantages | decisions are made quickly |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | employees ideas and creativity might not be considered |
| Advantages | decisions made by the most experienced members of the organisation |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | employees may become demotivated by lack of input or responsibility |
| Advantages | employees have clear instructions of requirements |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | amount of decision making can be stressful for managers |
Laissez-faire
Laissez-faire style of leadership involves:
- managers letting employees get on with their jobs with as little interference as possible
- employees are allowed to make decisions and solve problems on their own with little guidance from management
- management will only step in if they are needed
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| effective in situations where staff are highly skilled and motivated | poor performance can result if inexperienced staff are left without direction |
| employees may feel empowered and motived by their responsibility | employees may feel pressured if they have no support - leading to demotivation and stress |
| leaves room for innovative decision making | it is unclear who takes responsibility |
| Advantages | effective in situations where staff are highly skilled and motivated |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | poor performance can result if inexperienced staff are left without direction |
| Advantages | employees may feel empowered and motived by their responsibility |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | employees may feel pressured if they have no support - leading to demotivation and stress |
| Advantages | leaves room for innovative decision making |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | it is unclear who takes responsibility |
Democratic
A democratic style of leadership involves:
- managers and employees working together to make decisions
- a consultative management style
- employees are encouraged to communicate ideas to management
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| highly motivated employees who feel empowered | decision making can take time |
| employees are better prepared for promotion | a strong leader is required to lead discussions and supervise employees |
| employees more accepting of change within the organisation |
| Advantages | highly motivated employees who feel empowered |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | decision making can take time |
| Advantages | employees are better prepared for promotion |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | a strong leader is required to lead discussions and supervise employees |
| Advantages | employees more accepting of change within the organisation |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages |
