Democratic Leadership Style
The democratic leadership style is also
called the participative style as it encourages employees to be a part
of the decision making. The democratic manager keeps his or her
employees informed about everything that affects their work and shares
decision making and problem solving responsibilities. This style
requires the leader to be a coach who has the final say, but gathers
information from staff members before making a decision.
Democratic leadership can produce high
quality and high quantity work for long periods of time. Many employees
like the trust they receive and respond with cooperation, team spirit,
and high morale.
Typically the democratic leader:
--Develops plans to help employees
evaluate their own performance
--Allows employees to establish goals
--Encourages employees to grow on the
job and be promoted
--Recognizes and encourages
achievement.
Like the other styles, the democratic
style is not always appropriate. It is most successful when used with
highly skilled or experienced employees or when implementing operational
changes or resolving individual or group problems.
The democratic leadership style is
most effective when:
--The leader wants to keep employees
informed about matters that affect them.
--The leader wants employees to share
in decision-making and problem-solving duties.
--The leader wants to provide
opportunities for employees to develop a high sense of personal growth
and job satisfaction.
--There is a large or complex problem
that requires lots of input to solve.
--Changes must be made or problems
solved that affect employees or groups of employees.
--You want to encourage team building
and participation.
Democratic leadership should not be
used when:
--There is not enough time to get
everyone’s input.
--It’s easier and more cost-effective
for the manager to make the decision.
--The business can’t afford mistakes.
--The manager feels threatened by this
type of leadership.
--Employee safety is a critical
concern.
References
http://www.essortment.com/all/leadershipstyle_rrnq.htm |
