Leadership styles refer to the different ways that leaders use to influence, communicate, motivate, and guide their teams. There are many different leadership styles, and the most effective style will vary depending on the situation, the team, and the leader themselves.
Some of the most common leadership styles include:
- Autocratic
- Paternalistic
- Democratic
- Laissez-faire
- Situational
Introduction to democratic leadership style
Democratic leadership is a style of leadership that promotes the active participation of workers in the decision-making process.
On one hand, this can bring about better morale and job satisfaction when employees are able to share their opinions and ideas. And on the other, this may lead to better final decisions as workers contribute their valuable work expertise to new situations. There is two-way communication with workers who are given most of the information about the business to allow them to fully participate in decisions. On daily basis, workers will complete tasks without close supervision and will most likely work more effectively when the leader cannot always be present to ensure that employees remain on task.
Motivation is likely to be high as employees are given some responsibility for the objectives and strategy of the business making them feel more committed when decisions that they have influenced are put into real life. However, employing this leadership style can be a slow process. Also, consultations with staff can be time-consuming delaying decision-making as many people are involved.
A democratic leader is one who involves employees in the decision-making process. While it is the leader who sets objectives, workers will be consulted and their views will be considered before making any final decision. Encouraging workers to engage in discussion will motivate them as they will feel trusted that their opinions are respected. The leader will delegate authority for some decision-making to subordinates making him available to solve problems as they emerge, but otherwise close supervision is not needed. He needs good communication skills to be able to explain issues clearly and to understand responses from the workforce.
Democratic leadership style is used in a variety of business situations, especially when workers contribute fully to the production and decision-making processes satisfying their higher-order needs. This applies to situations that demand a new way of thinking or new solutions where employees are skilled, experienced and happy to be involved in decision-making. While it is the experienced and flexible workforce who benefits the most from this style, it is not very suitable when dealing with a very large group of unskilled workers. Or, during crisis situations such as trade union strike actions or Public Relations (PR) crisis.
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In summary, democratic leadership is a leadership style in which employees play a part in the decision-making process. Democratic leaders and managers consult staff and consider their opinions before making a final decision. It encourages decision making from different perspectives with leadership emphasized throughout the organization. The leader takes decision and seeks to persuade others that the decision is correct. This style may help with motivation and involvement as workers feel ownership of the firm and its ideas. While it improves the sharing of ideas and experiences within the business, it may delay decision making.
