Leadership Flashcards
What are the 3 leadership styles?
Autocratic
Democratic
Laissez-faire
What is autocratic?
Authority and control is retained by the leader. Managers tell employees what to do.
What is democratic?
Communication and employee participation are key. Managers let employees have a say in decision-making.
What is laissez-faire?
A rough translation of the French phrase is ‘let them be’. Managers with this style do exactly that, they don’t issue instructions or supervise staff, they just let staff carry out their jobs.
What are the advantages of autocratic?
There are clear expectations of what needs to be done.
Decisions can be made quickly.
This works well when the manager is the most skilled or knowledgeable in the team.
What are the disadvantages of autocratic?
There’s no opportunity for delegation or empowerment, demotivating some staff.
There’s a lack of creativity in decision-making as it is retained with senior management.
What are the advantages of democratic?
Employees feel motivated as they have a say in decision-making.
The manager has the final say but employees can contribute, which can encourage creativity and help solve complex problems.
What are the disadvantages of democratic?
Mistakes can be made if workers are not skilled or experienced enough to participate in decision-making.
Some employees can be less productive than they would be under an autocratic manager.
What are the advantages of laissez-faire?
Employees are highly empowered to make decisions and only seek manager’s assistance when they need help, which motivates employees.
This can create a very relaxed work environment.
What are the disadvantages of laissez-faire?
Lack of direction can lead to objectives not being met.
This can only work in highly professional environments where workers are self-motivated, such as technology companies or creative industries.
