Leadership Management: Directive vs. Participative Styles Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive comparison of directive and participative leadership styles, specifically within the context of Indian companies. It begins by outlining the theoretical underpinnings of each style, highlighting their key characteristics and differences. The report then delves into a contextual analysis, exploring how these leadership styles are perceived and implemented in the Indian business environment, including the influence of gender and Western management practices. Furthermore, the report presents a pragmatic approach, analyzing the effectiveness of each leadership style in cross-cultural settings within India. Through case studies and examples, the report assesses the impact of each leadership style on employee engagement, productivity, and overall company success, ultimately aiming to determine which style is more beneficial. The report emphasizes the shift from directive to participative styles, driven by factors like changing cultural values and the influx of Western management ideas, while also acknowledging the varying effectiveness of each style across different business sectors. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and offering insights into the optimal leadership approach for fostering a productive and engaged workforce in the Indian corporate landscape.

Running head: LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT
Leadership Management
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Executive Summary
The report has thrown light on identifying the comparison between the participative and
directive style of leadership which is being followed in the different companies in the
Indian economy. From the different instances, it can be identified that in the Indian
companies, the gender plays a vital role in choosing the leadership style. However, from
the different examples, it can be identified that the gender should play any role in
deciding on the overall style of leadership as it affects the overall productivity of the
companies. From the comparison, it can be identified that participative style of leadership
plays a vital role in improving the overall success of the company in a positive manner.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Theoretical Aspect.....................................................................................................................3
Overview of Participative and Directive Leadership Style....................................................3
Comparison of Participative Leadership Style which is practiced in Organizations in
Comparison to Directive Leadership which was practiced in Indian Companies.................4
Analysis of whether Genders Perceive on Different Type of Leadership in India................6
Contextual Aspect......................................................................................................................8
Analysis of whether Participative Leadership Style in India is Influence of Western
Management...........................................................................................................................8
Pragmatic Approach.................................................................................................................10
Analysis of Participative and Directive Leadership Style Work in Cross-Cultural Society in
India......................................................................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
The report throws light on identifying the difference between the directive
leadership along with participative leadership approach which is being followed in the
different organizations in India. Leadership is the quality of the behavior of the different
individuals wherein they guide the people or the activities in organizing the different
efforts in a positive manner. The main aim and purpose of the report is to identify and
compare between participative and directive style of leadership through proper
justification that will be helpful in identifying the strengths as well as weaknesses in a
proper manner that will be assisting in managing the decisions appropriately.
Theoretical Aspect
Overview of Participative and Directive Leadership Style
As commented by Walker and Aritz (2015), the directive leadership style is one of
the common styles of leadership which was used in a huge manner in the past. The
directive leaders mainly tend to focus on the own opinions along with experiences above
the others. In addition, they try to set direction of mission as well as vision wherein it
means that direct reports are not being offered to offer the different kinds of suggestions
or providing feedback to the leaders. With the implementation of directive leadership, it
helps in providing and creating proper clarity within the expectations related to role. The
different employees are provided with clarity regarding their expectations related to role
which helps them in completing the different projects within the specified deadline and it
helps in improving performance levels of the teams as well (Van Wart, 2013).

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On the other hand, as commented by Taylor and Pattie (2014), the participative
leadership style is defined as the approach which invites the different inputs from the
employees on the different decisions related to company. The staffs working in the
organizations are provided with the pertinent information related to the issues of the
company and the majority of the vote helps in determining the different course of action
the company will be taking. With the inclusion of the participative leaders in the
organizations, it will be beneficial in increasing the productivity of the company and it
improves the morale of the employees in performing the tasks in a positive manner. As
opined by Sagnak (2016), increased productivity along with job satisfaction cannot exist
unless there is high level of motivation provided to the different employees working in
the organization. In case of the participative style of leadership, the decentralization is the
major factor that can be providing freedom to the employees in sharing their viewpoints
and their opinions are mattered.
Comparison of Participative Leadership Style which is practiced in Organizations in
Comparison to Directive Leadership which was practiced in Indian Companies
As opined by Rast III, Hogg and Giessner (2013), the directive kind of leadership
was used to be followed in the different kinds of organizations wherein the leaders use to
take care of the different decisions which were made by them. In addition, as stated by
Miao et al., (2013), there was no collaboration between the team members and the higher
authorities felt that there should be hierarchical aspects which required to be followed in a
positive manner to get the things done. In the past working environment, the different
employees were acquainted with such leadership style and it created structure for the
different tasks which were unstructured in nature.

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Moreover, as commented by Miao, Newman and Huang (2014), the directive
leaders are the ones who feel that they are most effective when the knowledge along with
experience can be utilized in a positive manner to implement the different specific
structures for the others or subordinates who are working under them. Additionally, as
opined by Mesu, Sanders and Riemsdijk (2015), directive leadership helped in reducing the
issues with the different demotivated workers which helped in improving their situations
and attaining the goals which were required to be acquired by them within the stipulated
time frame.
For instance- In case of Reliance, it can be identified that CEO Mukesh Ambani
followed the autocratic leadership style wherein he was the one who used to make the
different decisions in the proper manner and used to guide the different employees. In the
respective scenario, Reliance has been able to succeed in their business through following
the different guidelines of Mukesh Ambani and the company as reached a great height in
the present scenario as well.
From the above instance of Reliance Company, it can be identified that as per the
autocratic or directive style of leadership, it is quite simplistic and the leaders take the
responsibility of the different activities which are being performed in the organizations in
an appropriate manner. Mukesh Ambani used to follow up along with monitor the
different kinds of activities which were performed by the employees and it helped them in
attaining the different goals appropriately as well. In case of the directive leadership style,
the planning, scheduling and monitoring are the key elements which should be followed
by the companies as to achieve the positive and successful results that helped the
company and the employees in succeeding in the different business dealing positively and
within the stipulated time frame as well (Martin, Liao & Campbell, 2013).

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Analysis of whether Genders Perceive on Different Type of Leadership in India
As commented by Mahdi, Mohd and Almsafir (2014), in case of the participative
leadership, it helps in empowering the different individuals with increased influence
along with responsibilities along with involves them in the process of decision-making. In
the present scenario, wherein the millennial are working in the companies, it can be
identified that they prefer the participative style of leadership wherein their involvement
is the prime aspect which should be considered by the senior managers. Moreover, as
stated by Laschinger et al. (2014), with the implementation of the participative approach,
the management helps in increasing the stake or the ownership of the different individuals
in the process of decision-making.
For instance- In Flipkart, Sachin and Binny Bansal prefers to use participative
leadership style as the different individuals who are working are millennial and they
prefer to work in an environment wherein they will be receiving job satisfaction. Sachin
and Binny Bansal try to take the different inputs from all the employees working in
different departments that encouraged them in performing more efficiently and achieve
successful results. As per Sachin and Binny Bansal, vision is the most effective matter
which is mattered and it helped him in improving the job satisfaction among the
employees in a positive manner. The CEO of Flipkart Sachin and Binny Bansal is
visionary and participative leader whose main aim is to make the decision-making
through delegation and joint efforts that helps them in achieving the goals in a positive
manner.
For instance- However, in case of State Bank of India, wherein the former CEO
Arundhati Bhattacharjee, she followed the participative style of leadership approach

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wherein she used to take into consideration the different opinions of the subordinates in
the process of decision-making that helped the employees to perform well and it helped in
completion of the tasks in a positive manner as well.
From the respective instance, it can be identified that participative leadership is the
new aspect which helps the companies in improving the production of the company in a
positive manner. There is shared power in making the different decisions that helps the
companies in enhancing the motivation among individuals which will be effective in
decision making process and meeting the different hierarchical needs (Lam, Huang &
Chan, 2015). As per the participative leadership, the companies emphasize more on
collaboration along with free flow of the different ideas appropriately which creates
mutual respect among the different employees in a positive manner. In addition,
Laschinger and Fida (2014), have pined that in participative leadership style, one of the
main benefits which is being gained by the companies is that there is engagement of the
employees which enhances their morale in performing the activities in a proper manner.
However, there are different organizations such as in Reliance, Mukesh Ambani
followed the directive style of leadership wherein it affected the morale of the employees
negatively. Therefore, from the analysis of such instances in the organization, it can be
identified that there is a major role of the gender in deciding and working upon the
leadership style in the companies. It is required to be changed in the Indian organizations
as the leadership is the ascot which should be followed to meet the different needs of the
employees as they are the asset of the company (Korzynski, 2013). The participative
leadership can be helpful in improving the morale of the employees and it will be helpful
in improving the scenario and gain huge positive productivity.

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Contextual Aspect
Analysis of whether Participative Leadership Style in India is Influence of Western
Management
As commented by Kim and Schachter (2015), it can be identified that the
participative leadership style is the most chosen style of leadership in different countries
in the present scenario. In the current scenario, the participative leadership has been of
major influence from the western cultural aspect as the companies in the Indian culture
prefer to work in a group. From the instance of Flipkart Company, it can be identified that
the participative leadership adaption by the CEOs of the company has been able to
improve the overall effectiveness of the company and the workers have become more
productive.
In addition, from the instance of the Amazon Company, wherein Jeff Bezos has
been a successful participative leader and due to the same, it has been able to improve the
workplace productivity in a proper manner (Shamir & Eilam-Shamir, 2018). Jeff Bezos
tried to include all the team members in the decision making process which enhanced
their productivity and increased their morale in performing the tasks in an effective
manner (Hwang et al., 2015). Therefore, after Jeff Bezos was successful in managing the
team members in achieving the goals and the company earned high profitability and
revenue in the competitive business environment, thereafter the participative leadership
came into existence that helped the other companies in different countries to become
successful and they have been able to improve their productivity.
Previously, in the different Indian Information Technology Companies, it was
being surveyed that the turnover among the employees were high as there was

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dictatorship in the organization and due to the same; it affected the morale of the
employees negatively. However, after the introduction of the participative leadership
style, it affected the growth of the employees and the company positively which reduced
the turnover and the employees had felt that they had job satisfaction and helped them in
performing the different tasks more efficiently and generated positive results (Harold &
Holtz, 2015).
Previously, in the case of adopting the directive style of leadership, the employees
felt that they were not being heard and their morale was reduced. In Hindustan Unilever,
the higher officials did not provide any kind of chance to the employees to provide their
feedback and there was inclusion of dictatorship in the organization as well. Due to the
same, it led to the turnover among the employees which affected their morale and it
created huge chaos among the employees as they were not being informed regarding any
kind of organizational changes which were taking place (Giltinane, 2013). However, after
such incidents, it was being seen and analyzed that such kind of aspects affected the
growth of the company as the different efficient employees were leaving their jobs and
they were not satisfied with the working culture.
After the increase in the rate of turnover in the different Indian organizations, the
different leaders in the company’s preferred to change their leadership style as they did
not want to lose their valuable employees (Ford et al., 2016). Moreover, in case of
Flipkart, the Indian organization, felt that the employees are required to provide with the
scope of sharing their ideas in the different kinds of changes which takes place in the
organization as it will improve their morale and there will be other new employees who
will be attracted towards the organization.

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Pragmatic Approach
Analysis of Participative and Directive Leadership Style Work in Cross-Cultural
Society in India
In the Indian culture, it has been noticed and analyzed that in the previous era, the
different Indian organizations preferred to follow the directive style of leadership as the
senior managers in the organizations felt that they are superior and they have the
knowledge regarding the different aspects of the tasks which are being performed by
them. From the overall comparison of the two style of leadership, it can be identified that
as per the present scenario approach, the participative leadership is the most significant
and appropriate aspect which can be followed by the different companies in India which
will be helpful in achieving the different goals in a significant manner (Fausing et al.,
2015).
From the different examples of Flipkart, it can be identified that as per the
participative leadership, all the employees or the subordinates are involved in the process
of decision-making and gain competitive advantage in the market as well. As commented
by (), there are different kinds of feedbacks and inputs received from the different
individuals in the organization, it means that the different minutest details are being
considered which are required to be taken care of and reported.
Moreover, as stated by Bell, Chan and Nel (2014), as per the participative style of
leadership, there is less need of the supervision and the more emphasis is provided on the
widening of different skills which will be helpful in controlling the activities in an
automatic manner. In addition, as stated by Arnold and Loughlin (2013), the participative
style of leadership assists in consulting with the groups along with the individuals as it

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will be enhancing the overall effectiveness and appropriateness of the tasks which are
performed by them. Sachin and Binny Bansal follow and help in promoting the free flow
of ideas that helps in involving the employees and understanding their viewpoints
regarding a project which required to be commenced. As a democratic leader, they help in
building sustainable relationship with the employees and it helps in dealing with the
workers in a proper manner.
However, in case of directive leadership style, there are different kinds of
disadvantages of the respective style wherein it reduces the morale of the employees.
Moreover, due to the autocratic kind of leadership, it avoided the use of collaboration as
the leaders take all the different kinds of responsibilities themselves and the subordinates
are required to follow (Antonakis & House, 2013). In the present scenario, the
participative leadership is the best aspect which can be followed by the different
organizations as it will be beneficial for increasing the morale of the employees and it
will be increasing the overall productivity in a positive manner as well (Alanazi, Alharthey
& Rasli, 2013).
Therefore, from the above, it can be identified that participative and directive
leadership styles are adopted in Indian culture in different manners. However, as per the
current scenario of the business environment, the participative leadership is the main and
most used approaches in the different companies that helped them in improving the
overall productivity of the company in a positive manner.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that the leadership is one of the main aspects which
should be followed by the different organizations as it helped in improving the overall