Can be used for teaching leadership

1. A leadership style refers to a leader's characteristic behaviors when
directing, motivating, guiding, and managing groups of people. Great leaders
can inspire political movements and social change. They can also motivate
others to perform, create, and innovate.
As you start to consider some of the people who you think of as great
leaders, you can immediately see that there are often vast differences in
how each person leads. Fortunately, researchers have developed
different theories and frameworks that allow us to better identify and
understand these different leadership styles.
What Are Leadership Styles?
Leadership styles are classifications of how a person behaves while leading a
group. Lewyn's leadership styles are authoritarian (autocratic), participative
(democratic), and delegative (laissez-faire).
Illustration by JoshuaSeong, Verywell
Lewin's Leadership Styles
In 1939, a group of researchers led by psychologist Kurt Lewin set out to
identify different styles of leadership.1
While further research has identified
more distinct types of leadership, this early study was very influential and
established three major leadership styles that have provided a springboard
for more defined leadership theories.
In Lewin's study, schoolchildren were assigned to one of three groups with
an authoritarian, democratic, or laissez-faire leader. The children were then
led in an arts and crafts project while researchers observed the behavior of
children in response to the different styles of leadership. The researchers
found that democratic leadership tended to be the most effective at inspiring
followers to perform well.
Authoritarian Leadership (Autocratic)
Authoritarian leaders, also known as autocratic leaders, provide clear
expectations for what needs to be done, when it should be done, and how it
should be done. This style of leadership is strongly focused on both
command by the leader and control of the followers. There is also a clear
division between the leader and the members. Authoritarian leaders make
decisions independently, with little or no input from the rest of the group.

2. Researchers found that decision-making was less creative under
authoritarian leadership.1
Lewin also concluded that it is harder to move
from an authoritarian style to a democratic style than vice versa. Abuse of
this method is usually viewed as controlling, bossy, and dictatorial.
Authoritarian leadership is best applied to situations where there is little time
for group decision-making or where the leader is the most knowledgeable
member of the group. The autocratic approach can be a good one when the
situation calls for rapid decisions and decisive actions. However, it tends to
create dysfunctional and even hostile environments, often pitting followers
against the domineering leader.
Pros and Cons of Autocratic Leadership
Participative Leadership (Democratic)
Lewin’s study found that participative leadership, also known as democratic
leadership, is typically the most effective leadership style.1
Democratic
leaders offer guidance to group members, but they also participate in the
group and allow input from other group members. In Lewin’s study, children
in this group were less productive than the members of the authoritarian
group, but their contributions were of a higher quality.2
Participative leaders encourage group members to participate, but retain the
final say in the decision-making process. Group members feel engaged in
the process and are more motivated and creative. Democratic leaders tend
to make followers feel like they are an important part of the team, which
helps foster commitment to the goals of the group.
Democratic Leadership Strengths and Weaknesses
Delegative Leadership (Laissez-Faire)
Lewin found that children under delegative leadership, also known as
laissez-faire leadership, were the least productive of all three groups. The
children in this group also made more demands on the leader, showed little
cooperation, and were unable to work independently.
Delegative leaders offer little or no guidance to group members and leave
the decision-making up to group members. While this style can be useful in
situations involving highly qualified experts, it often leads to poorly defined
roles and a lack of motivation.

3. Lewin noted that laissez-faire leadership tended to result in groups that
lacked direction and members who blamed each other for mistakes, refused
to accept personal responsibility, made less progress, and produced less
work.1
How Does Laissez-Faire Leadership Work?
Observations About Lewin's Leadership Styles
In their book, The Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research, and
Managerial Applications, Bass and Bass note that authoritarian leadership is
often presented solely in negative, often disapproving, terms.2
Authoritarian
leaders are often described as controlling and close-minded, yet this
overlooks the potential positives of stressing rules, expecting obedience, and
taking responsibility.
While authoritarian leadership certainly is not the best choice for every
situation, it can be effective and beneficial in cases where followers need a
great deal of direction and where rules and standards must be followed to
the letter. Another often overlooked benefit of the authoritarian style is the
ability to maintain a sense of order.
Bass and Bass note that democratic leadership tends to be centered on the
followers and is an effective approach when trying to maintain relationships
with others.2
People who work under such leaders tend to get along well,
support one another, and consult other members of the group when making
decisions.
Additional Leadership Styles and Models
In addition to the three styles identified by Lewin and his colleagues,
researchers have described numerous other characteristic patterns of
leadership. A few of the best-known include:
Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership is often identified as the single most effective
style. This style was first described during the late 1970s and later expanded
upon by researcher Bernard M. Bass. Transformational leaders are able to
motivate and inspire followers and to direct positive changes in groups.

4. These leaders tend to be emotionally intelligent, energetic, and passionate.
They are not only committed to helping the organization achieve its goals,
but also to helping group members fulfill their potential.
Research shows that this style of leadership results in higher performance
and more improved group satisfaction than other leadership styles.3
One
study also found that transformational leadership led to improved well-being
among group members.4
Transactional Leadership
The transactional leadership style views the leader-follower relationship as a
transaction. By accepting a position as a member of the group, the individual
has agreed to obey the leader. In most situations, this involves the
employer-employee relationship, and the transaction focuses on the follower
completing required tasks in exchange for monetary compensation.
One of the main advantages of this leadership style is that it creates clearly
defined roles.5
People know what they are required to do and what they will
be receiving in exchange. This style allows leaders to offer a great deal of
supervision and direction, if needed.
Group members may also be motivated to perform well to receive rewards.
One of the biggest downsides is that the transactional style tends to stifle
creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.6
How a Transactional Leadership Style Works
Situational Leadership
Situational theories of leadership stress the significant influence of the
environment and the situation on leadership. Hersey and Blanchard's
leadership styles is one of the best-known situational theories. First
published in 1969, this model describes four primary styles of leadership,
including:7
1. Telling: Telling people what to do
2. Selling: Convincing followers to buy into their ideas and messages
3. Participating: Allowing group members to take a more active role in
the decision-making process
4. Delegating: Taking a hands-off approach to leadership and allowing
group members to make the majority of decisions

5. Later, Blanchard expanded upon the original Hersey and Blanchard model to
emphasize how the developmental and skill level of learners influences the
style that should be used by leaders. Blanchard's SLII leadership styles
model also described four different leading styles:8
1. Directing: Giving orders and expecting obedience, but offering little
guidance and assistance
2. Coaching: Giving lots of orders, but also lots of support
3. Supporting: Offering plenty of help, but very little direction
4. Delegating: Offering little direction or support

6. Autocratic Leadership
Key Characteristics, Strengths, and Weaknesses of
Autocratic Leadership
By
KendraCherry
Updatedon June 10, 2020
Medicallyreviewed by
DavidSusman,PhD
Table of Contents
 Characteristics
 Benefits
 Downsides
 Successes
Autocratic leadership, also known as authoritarian leadership, is a leadership style characterized
by individual control over all decisions and little input from group members. Autocratic leaders
typically make choices based on their ideas and judgments and rarely accept advice from
followers. Autocratic leadership involves absolute, authoritarian control over a group.
Like other leadership styles, the autocratic style has both some benefits and some weaknesses.
While those who rely on this approach to heavily are often seen as bossy or dictator-like, this
level of control can have benefits and be useful in certain situations.
When and where the authoritarian style is most useful can depend on factors such as the
situation, the type of task the group is working on, and characteristics of the team members. If
you tend to utilize this type of leadership with a group, learning more about your style and the
situations in which this style is the most effective can be helpful.

8. Verywell/HugoLin
Characteristics
Some of the primary characteristics of autocratic leadership include:1
 Allowslittle ornoinputfromgroup members
 Requiresleadersto make almostall of the decisions
 Providesleaderswiththe abilitytodictate workmethodsandprocesses
 Leavesgroupfeelinglike theyaren'ttrustedwithdecisionsorimportanttasks
 Tendsto create highlystructuredandveryrigidenvironments
 Discouragescreativityandout-of-the box thinking
 Establishesrulesandtendstobe clearlyoutlinedandcommunicated
Benefits
 Allows for quick decision-making especially in stress-filled situations
 Offers a clear chain of command or oversight
 Works well where strong, directive leadership is needed
Drawbacks
 Discourages group input
 Hurts morale and leads to resentment
 Ignores or impairs creative solutions and expertise from subordinates
Benefits
The autocratic style tends to sound quite negative. It certainly can be when overused or applied
to the wrong groups or situations. However, autocratic leadership can be beneficial in some
instances, such as when decisions need to be made quickly without consulting with a large group
of people.
Some projects require strong leadership to get things accomplished quickly and efficiently.
When the leader is the most knowledgeable person in the group, the autocratic style can lead to
fast and effective decisions. The autocratic leadership style can be useful in the following
instances:2
Provides Direction
Autocratic leadership can be effective in small groups where leadership is lacking. Have you
ever worked with a group of students or co-workers on a project that got derailed by poor
organization, a lack of leadership and an inability to set deadlines?

9. If so, the chances are that your grade or job performance suffered as a result. In such situations, a
strong leader who utilizes an autocratic style can take charge of the group, assign tasks to
different members, and establish solid deadlines for projects to be finished.
These types of group projects tend to work better when one person is either assigned the role of
leader or simply takes on the job on their own. By setting clear roles, assigning tasks, and
establishing deadlines, the group is more likely to finish the project on time and with everyone
providing equal contributions.
Relieves Pressure
This leadership style can also be used well in cases where a great deal of pressure is involved. In
situations that are particularly stressful, such as during military conflicts, group members may
prefer an autocratic style.
This allows members of the group to focus on performing specific tasks without worrying about
making complex decisions. This also allows group members to become highly skilled at
performing certain duties, which is ultimately beneficial to the success of the entire group.
Offers Structure
Manufacturing and construction work can also benefit from the autocratic style. In these
situations, it is essential that each person have a clearly assigned task, a deadline, and rules to
follow.
Autocratic leaders tend to do well in these settings because they ensure that projects are finished
on time and that workers follow safety rules to prevent accidents and injuries.
Downsides
While autocratic leadership can be beneficial at times, there are also many instances where this
leadership style can be problematic. People who abuse an autocratic leadership style are often
viewed as bossy, controlling, and dictatorial. This can sometimes result in resentment among
group members.
Group members can end up feeling that they have no input or say in how things or done, and this
can be particularly problematic when skilled and capable members of a team are left feeling that
their knowledge and contributions are undermined. Some common problems with autocratic
leadership:2
Discourages Group Input
Because autocratic leaders make decisions without consulting the group, people in the group may
dislike that they are unable to contribute ideas. Researchers have also found that autocratic

10. leadership often results in a lack of creative solutions to problems, which can ultimately hurt the
group from performing.
Autocratic leaders tend to overlook the knowledge and expertise that group members might bring
to the situation. Failing to consult with other team members in such situations hurts the overall
success of the group.
Hurts Morale
Autocratic leadership can also impair the morale of the group in some cases. People tend to feel
happier and perform better when they feel like they are making contributions to the future of the
group. Since autocratic leaders typically do not allow input from team members, followers start
to feel dissatisfied and stifled.
How to Be Successful
The autocratic style can be beneficial in some settings, but also has its pitfalls and is not
appropriate for every setting and with every group. If this tends to be your dominant leadership
style, there are things that you should consider whenever you are in a leadership role.2
Listen to Team Members
You might not change your mind or implement their advice, but subordinates need to feel that
they can express their concerns. Autocratic leaders can sometimes make team members feel
ignored or even rejected.
Listening to people with an open mind can help them feel like they are making an important
contribution to the group's mission.
Establish Clear Rules
In order to expect team members to follow your rules, you need to first ensure that guidelines are
clearly established and that each person on your team is fully aware of them.
Provide Tools
Once your subordinates understand the rules, you need to be sure that they actually have the
education and abilities to perform the tasks you set before them. If they need additional
assistance, offer oversight and training to fill in this knowledge gap.
Be Reliable
Inconsistent leaders can quickly lose the respect of their teams. Follow through and enforce the
rules you have established. Establish that you are a reliable leader and your team is more likely
to follow your guidance because you have built trust with them.

11. Recognize Success
Your team may quickly lose motivation if they are only criticized when they make mistakes but
never rewarded for their successes. Try to recognize success more than you point out mistakes.
By doing so, your team will respond much more favorably to your correction.
A Word From Verywell
While autocratic leadership does have some potential pitfalls, leaders can learn to use elements
of this style wisely. For example, an autocratic style can be used effectively in situations where
the leader is the most knowledgeable member of the group or has access to information tha

12. What Is Democratic Leadership?
By
KendraCherry
Updatedon February08, 2022
Medicallyreviewed by
DavidSusman,PhD
Top of Form
Verywell / Hugo Lin
Table of Contents
 Definition
 Characteristics
 Examples
 Benefits
 Pitfalls
 How to Use
What Is Democratic Leadership?
Democratic leadership, also known as participative leadership or shared leadership, is a
leadership style in which members of the group take a participative role in the decision-making
process. This type of leadership can apply to any organization, from private businesses to schools
to the government.
With a democratic leadership style, everyone is given the opportunity to participate, ideas are
exchanged freely, and discussion is encouraged. While this process tends to focus on group
equality and the free flow of ideas, the democratic leader is still there to offer guidance and
control.
The democratic leader is also charged with deciding who is in the group and who gets to
contribute to the decisions being made. Research has found that the democratic leadership style
is one of the most effective types and leads to higher productivity, better contributions from
group members, and increased group morale.1
Characteristics of Democratic Leadership

13. Some of the primary characteristics of democratic leadership include:2
 Group membersare encouragedtoshare ideasandopinions,eventhoughthe leaderretainsthe
final sayoverdecisions.
 Membersof the groupfeel more engagedinthe process.
 Creativity isencouragedandrewarded.
Researchers suggest that good democratic leaders possess specific traits such as being a team
player, possessing a willingness to adapt, having a fair mind, and being engaged in the process.3
Strong democratic leaders inspire trust and respect among their followers.
These leaders are sincere and make decisions based on their morals and values. They also tend to
seek diverse opinions and do not try to silence dissenting voices or those that offer a less popular
point of view. As a result, followers feel inspired to take action and contribute to the group.
Examples of Democratic Leadership
More than half of the countries with populations over 500,000 people utilize a democratic
leadership style, with these numbers rising since the 1970s.4 The United States is one. Sweden,
the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others.
Some businesses also operate with a democratic management style, offering a participative
leadership approach. Google is one, with its founders likening their leadership style to being
"proud parents—offering advice and love, but not daily nagging!"5 Jack Dorsey, the former
Twitter CEO, was also often credited with having the characteristics of a democratic leader.
You can even find examples of democratic leadership within school clubs and 4-H
organizations.6 Tommy Lasorda, former manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers who won two
World Series championships, is credited with being a participative leader in the sport of
baseball.3
Benefits of Democratic Leadership
Because group members are encouraged to share their thoughts, democratic leadership can lead
to better ideas and more creative solutions to problems. Group members feel more involved and
committed to projects, making them more likely to care about the end results.
Research on leadership styles has shown that democratic leadership contributes to higher
productivity among group members.1 This way of leading has also been connected to increases
in group morale.6
Pros
 More ideas and creative solutions
 Group member commitment

14.  High productivity
 Improved group morale
Cons
 Communication failures
 Poor decision-making by unskilled groups
 Minority or individual opinions overridden
 Potential security issues
Potential Pitfalls of Democratic Leadership
While democratic leadership has been described as the most effective leadership style, it does
have some potential downsides. In situations where roles are unclear or time is of the essence,
democratic leadership can lead to communication failures and uncompleted projects.1
In some cases, group members may not have the necessary knowledge or expertise to make
quality contributions to the decision-making process. Democratic leadership can also result in
team members feeling like their opinions and ideas aren't taken into account.
For a government or organization to be truly democratic requires the sharing of all the
information. This can lead to potential security issues in some cases, making it another pitfall of
using a democratic leadership style.7
How to Use Democratic Leadership
Democratic leadership works best in situations where group members are skilled and eager to
share their knowledge. It is also important to have plenty of time to allow people to contribute,
develop a plan, then vote on the best course of action.
Because so many people are involved, setting deadlines can ensure that you get everyone's input
in enough time to act on it. Providing expectations upfront can be helpful as well, making it clear
when the group's input will be sought and which decisions management will make on its own.
A Word From Verywell
Like any other leadership style, there are pros and cons to being a democratic leader. Should you
decide that this is the best style for you, following a few simple guidelines—such as allowing
enough time and setting deadlines—can help make this an effective approach.