Three styles of leadership are described: laissez-faire leaders take no initiative and allow the group to progress without direction, resulting in satisfaction but inefficiency; democratic leaders provide some direction while allowing the group to determine its own goals and procedures, encouraging self-direction; authoritarian leaders determine policies and make decisions without input from members, potentially resulting in high efficiency but low satisfaction among group members.

1. Leadership

2. True leadership must be for
the benefit of the followers,
not the enrichment of the
leaders.
Robert Townsend

5. Styles of Leadership
Small group communication researchers distinguish three basic types of
group leaders: laissez-faire, democratic, and authoritarian.
The laissez-faire leader takes no initiative in directing or suggesting
alternative courses of action. Generally, this type of leadership results in a satisfied
but inefficient group.
The democratic leader provides direction but allows the group to develop
and progress the way its members wish. This leader encourages group members to
determine their own goals and procedures and works to stimulate the self-direction
and self-actualization of group members.
The authoritarian leader, the opposite of the laissez-faire leader,
determines group policies and makes decisions without consulting or securing
agreement from the members. If the authoritarian leader is competent, the group
may be highly efficient, but its members are likely to be less personally satisfied.