Democratic Leadership Compared to Autocratic and Laissezfaire Styles

Democratic Leadership Compared to Autocratic and Laissez-faire Styles BY: STEPHANIE OBIEROMA

Definition: Distributing responsibility among the membership, empowering group members, and aiding the group’s decisionmaking process (Gastil 1994). Three core elements (Lewin et. al) 1. The leader would expect the subordinates to report to leaders regarding the task. What is Democratic Leadership? 2. The leader would expect the subordinates to exhibit selfconfidence and the ability to get things done without constant supervision. 3. The leader would expect the subordinates to involve others in the decision-making process and therefore not act alone. Notable Scholars of Democratic Style: Kurt Lewin Ronald Lippitt Ralph K. White Daniel Gorman John Gastil

Examples of Democratic Leaders

Traits of Democratic Leadership Honesty Adaptive Intelligence Engaged Courage Role models Creativity Forward-thinking Competence Team-oriented Fairness Consensus builders Egalitarian Rational Fair-minded Reasonable

Advantages and Disadvantages of Democratic Style Source: cleverism. com

Democratic Leadership Compared to Autocratic Leadership BASIS FOR COMPARISON AUTOCRATIC LEADERSHIP DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP Meaning Autocratic leadership is one wherein a line of demarcation exist between the leader and his followers and all the decisions are taken by leader solely. Democratic leadership alludes to a type of leadership in which the leader shares decision making power and other responsibilities with the group members. Authority Centralized Decentralized Behavior orientation Task Oriented Relation Oriented Conceived from Theory X Theory Y Control High level of control Low level of control Autonomy Less High Suitability Appropriate when the subordinates unskilled, uneducated and obedient. Appropriate when team members are experienced, qualified and professional. Source: verywellmind. com

Rejection of Democratic Leadership from an Autocratic View Previous writings on democracy and democratic leadership suggest that people often reject this form of leadership for at least four reasons: 1: People oppose a democratic leadership structure because it directly threatens their undemocratic authority. 3: People have, to some degree, an unconscious or conscious desire for a hero, a charismatic figure capable of solving our problems and sweeping away our confusion. 2: People have authoritarian values and are not easily swayed from a strong belief in the justness and efficiency of powerful, directive authorities. 4: People reject the notion of democratic leadership for the opposite reason, having no faith whatsoever in leaders of any kind and no belief in their necessity.

Overcoming Barriers to a Democratic Leadership Style 1: Changing views and habits requires nurturing the sense of self-responsibility and self-confidence that give rise to a desire for, or acceptance of, democratic procedures (Gastil, 1992 c; Heifetz &Sinder, 1987; Lassey, 1971) 2: People must develop a greater sense of trust in themselves and others (Lassey, 1971) and come to believe that all people are potential leaders (Tead, 1935). 3: Respect for critical inquiry must flourish, with citizens seeking the better argument rather than the better orator (Slater &Bennis, 1990; Smith, 1926). 4: Structural changes might also lead to the development of more democratic values and behaviors. Democratic leadership, like democracy itself, grows better in some social, economic, and political environments than in others(Dahl, 1989; Slater &Bennis, 1990; Tucker, 1981).

Democratic Leadership Compared to Laissez-faire Leadership Source: okpalad. wordpress. com, adapted from Marquis and Huston (2008)

Sources Autocratic Leadership Guide: Definition, Qualities, Pros & Cons, Examples. ” Cleverism, 26 July 2016, https: //www. cleverism. com/autocratic-leadership-guide Choi, S. (2007). Democratic Leadership  The Lessons of Exemplary Models for Democratic Governance. Democratic Leadership Guide: Definition, Qualities, Pros & Cons, Examples. (2016, November 16). Retrieved July 14, 2019, from Cleverism website: https: //www. cleverism. com/democratic-leadership-guide/ Difference Between Autocratic and Democratic Leadership (with Comparison Chart). (2017, July 10). Retrieved July 11, 2019, from Key Differences website: https: //keydifferences. com/difference-between-autocratic-and-democraticleadership. html Difference Between Theory X and theory Y (with Comparison Chart). (2017, July 7). Retrieved July 14, 2019, from Key Differences website: https: //keydifferences. com/difference-between-theory-x-and-theory-y. html Gastil, J. (1994). A definition and illustration of democratic leadership. Human Relations; Thousand Oaks, 47(8), 953. JPreston. (2017, September 20). Autocratic, democratic or laissez-faire - what’s your leadership style? [Text]. Retrieved July 14, 2019, from Virgin website: https: //www. virgin. com/entrepreneur/autocratic-democratic-or-laissezfaire-whats-your-leadership-style Laissez Faire Leadership Guide: Definition, Qualities, Pros & Cons, Example. ” Cleverism, 29 Dec. 2017, https: //www. cleverism. com/laissez-faire-leadership-guide/ Khan, M. S. , Khan, I. , Qureshi, Q. A. , Ismail, H. M. , Rauf, H. , Latif, A. , & Tahir, M. (2015). The Styles of Leadership: A Critical Review. Public Policy and Administration Research, 7. Morin, W. B. expert A. , & LCSW. (n. d. ). Is Democratic Leadership the Best Style of Leadership? Retrieved July 14, 2019, from Verywell Mind website: https: //www. verywellmind. com/what-is-democratic-leadership-2795315 Most Effective Leadership And Management Styles And Approaches | CULCokpalad. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 14, 2019, from https: //okpalad. wordpress. com/2015/03/28/most-effective-leadership-and-management-styles-and-approaches/ Physician, A. B. -C. (n. d. -a). How Does Laissez-Faire Leadership Work? Retrieved July 14, 2019, from Verywell Mind website: https: //www. verywellmind. com/what-is-laissez-faire-leadership-2795316 Physician, A. B. -C. (n. d. -b). What Are the Pros and Cons of Autocratic Leadership? Retrieved July 14, 2019, from Verywell Mind website: https: //www. verywellmind. com/what-is-autocratic-leadership-2795314 What is Democratic/Participative Leadership? (n. d. ). Retrieved July 13, 2019, from St. Thomas University Online website: https: //online. stu. edu/articles/education/democratic-participative-leadership. aspx