Leadership Styles: Autocratic, Democratic, and Laissez-faire Analysis

This report delves into the multifaceted realm of leadership, emphasizing its crucial role in organizational success. It meticulously examines three primary leadership styles: autocratic, democratic (participative), and laissez-faire, detailing their distinct characteristics and impact. The report provides a comprehensive overview, discussing the advantages and disadvantages inherent in each style, providing practical examples of situations where each is most appropriate. The analysis includes the roles and significance of leadership styles in influencing subordinates, and provides an understanding of how leadership styles impact organizations. The report also touches upon the importance of effective leadership in driving business activities and operations. Furthermore, the report provides examples of companies and individuals that exemplify each leadership style, offering real-world context and illustrating the practical application of these leadership approaches. The report concludes by reiterating the significance of selecting and implementing the most suitable leadership style to foster employee productivity, job satisfaction, and overall organizational effectiveness.

Running head: Leadership styles
Leadership styles

Leadership styles
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Characteristics of leadership styles..............................................................................................................3
Advantages and disadvantages of leadership styles....................................................................................5
Examples when each of the style is appropriate.........................................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................7
References...................................................................................................................................................8
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Leadership styles
Introduction
The report talks about the roles and significance of the leadership. It explains that how
leadership styles play a significant role in today’s era to influence the subordinates. It describes
the characteristics of the autocratic leadership, democratic and laissez-faire leadership style.
Along with this, it also explains the advantages and disadvantages of the various leadership
styles. Further, some examples of the leadership have been explained in the report. None of the
organization can survive its business activities and operations without using effective and
dynamic leadership styles.
Characteristics of leadership styles
Leadership is the ability to influence the behavior of the other people in the organization.
It is the function of the management. The organization uses various types of leadership styles to
influence the subordinates at the workplace. The leadership styles include Directive leadership
style, Authoritative, participative, democratic and rein free leadership style. The characteristics
of leadership styles have been discussed below (Gardner, Cogliser, Davis & Dickens, 2011).
Characteristics of Authoritative leadership style
The authoritative leadership style is centered on the boss. It is also known as a autocratic
leadership style. Under this leadership style, leaders hold all the responsibilities and authorities.
The leaders can take their decisions own without consulting with subordinates within the
organization. They maintain communication and coordination with subordinates in order to meet
the goals and objectives of the firm. The characteristics of the authoritative leadership style have
been discussed below (Rast III, Hogg & Giessner, 2013).
 All the important and effective decisions are taken by the leaders.
 The leaders do not get the input from the subordinates and group members.
 The rules and policies are significant under this leadership style and clearly
communicated to the others.
 All the responsibilities and authorities are taken by the leaders in authoritative leadership
style.
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Leadership styles
 One way communication system is used by the leaders under authoritative leadership
style.
 Authoritative leaders mistrust their employees’ capabilities and competencies (Raelin,
2011).
Characteristics of democratic/ participative leadership style
In democratic leadership style, subordinates are involved in the decisions. This leadership
style is centered on the subordinates. This democratic leadership style plays a significant role in
order to meet the long-term mission and vision of the firm. The leaders acquired final
responsibilities and they delegate the power and authorities to the subordinates. The
characteristics of the democratic leadership style have been discussed below.
 It is also known as a participative leadership style. It is one of the dynamic and effective
leadership styles and it also helps to create productivity and efficiency.
 It helps to increase the moral and satisfaction of the workers.
 The leaders promote and encourage the interest of the employees and group members.
 They maintain effective downward and upward communication (Bhatti, Maitlo, Shaikh,
Hashmi & Shaikh, 2012).
Laissez-faire / Rein free leadership style
It is important and effective leadership style to motivate and enhance the productivity and
efficiency of the employees. Under this leadership style, leaders assign authorities and
responsibilities to the subordinates. It satisfies the needs, requirements, and expectations of the
employees. The characteristics of the laissez fair leadership style have been discussed below.
 The managers and leaders give full freedom to their subordinates and group members to
take important and effective decisions within the organization.
 The leaders maintain a free flow of communication in the organization.
 The managers do not use power and authorities but they maintain contact with group
members.
 The laissez fair leadership style helps to develop and build independent personality
(Chaudhry & Javed, 2012).
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Leadership styles
Advantages and disadvantages of leadership styles
The advantages of the authoritative leadership style have been discussed below.
 The directive leadership style provides reward and motivation for the leaders.
 Quick and effective decisions are taken by the leaders.
 The subordinates are not involved in the decision-making process.
 There is no initiative and schemes are required under this leadership style.
 The strong chain of command is possible under authoritative leadership style (De Hoogh,
Greer & Den Hartog, 2015).
The disadvantages of the authoritative leadership style have been discussed below.
 The people do not like this leadership style because it does not motivate the employees.
 It develops and builds frustration, conflict and low morale among the employees.
 The managers do not motivate the subordinates under this leadership style. Thus, they are
called poor motivators.
 The leaders do not give freedom to the subordinates. It is one of the biggest
disadvantages of the directive leadership style (Piccolo, Bono, Heinitz, Rowold, Duehr,
& Judge, 2012).
The advantages of the democratic/ participative leadership style have been discussed below.
 The employees share their ideas, thoughts, and opinion with subordinates and they
provide responsibilities to them to make the effective and unique decisions.
 The participative leadership style is suitable for every business.
 It helps to provide effective solutions to complex issues and problems.
 This leadership style helps to reduce the conflict and resistant to change within the
organization.
 It helps to maintain a favorable working environment within the organization.
 It also helps to reduce employee turnover and absenteeism in the organization in order to
expand and explore the business.
 The quality of decisions and choices are improved by using participative leadership style
(Ogbeide & Harrington, 2011).
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Leadership styles
The disadvantages of the democratic/ participate leadership style have been discussed below.
 It is very time-consuming leadership style. Thus, it affects the decision-making process.
 It is less effective leadership style. This leadership style affects the morale and self-
respect of the leaders. Therefore, it creates confusion and conflicts in the organization
(Finley, 2011).
The advantages of the Rein free/ Laissez-faire leadership style have been discussed below.
 It helps to provide moral, job security and job satisfaction to the employees.
 This leadership style provides a chance to take initiative to the employees.
 The subordinates can develop their skills and knowledge by using Laissez-faire
leadership style (Saeed, Almas, Anis-ul-Haq & Niazi, 2014).
The disadvantages of laissez-faire leadership have been discussed below.
 Under this leadership style, the employees do not follow leadership.
 The employees do not get the support and guidance of the leaders within the
organization.
 The subordinates move in different direction. Therefore, it creates problems and key
challenges in the organization (Wong & Giessner, 2015).
Examples when each of the styles is appropriate
For example, XYZ hypothetical company can use autocratic leadership style when quick
and important decisions are needed and when poor performance and efficiency of the employees
need to be corrected within the organization (Hackman & Johnson, 2013). It is good for the
inexperienced and unmotivated workers. During the times of contingencies and emergencies like
an interruption of communication lines, and unexpected power outrages, the company uses
autocratic leadership style to increase the revenue and profit of the company. If there is a time
pressure and the company needs to take immediate decisions then the company can use
autocratic leadership style within the organization. Ridley Scott, Roger Ailes, and John
Chambers are the example of the autocratic leaders. Further, many manufacturing industry, the
music industry, and restaurants use autocratic leadership style. Along with this, many other
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Leadership styles
companies use autocratic leadership style to enhance and increase the productivity and efficiency
of the subordinates (Hackman & Johnson, 2013).
On the other hand, many firms use democratic/ participative leadership style to influence
and control over the subordinates in the organization. For example, hospitals, labs, the
pharmaceutical industry and high tech firms use democratic leadership style within the
organization. Apart from this, Google, Amazon.com and Mayo clinic companies use this
leadership style while conducting its business activities and operations globally. Indra Nooyi,
Tommy Lasorda, and Ginni Rometty are the democratic leaders. Further, if the company wants
to share and exchange idea, thoughts and strategies then the company can use democratic
leadership style. The company provides motivation by using democratic leadership style (Harris,
2011).
The organization uses Laissez-faire leadership style when staff members are highly
skilled, capable and motivated in order to accomplish the goals and objectives of the firm. In
addition, merchandisers and retail buyers are an example of the effective and unique laissez-faire
leadership style. Along with this, product manager works under laissez-faire leadership. There
are various projects completed under the laissez-faire leadership style. Herbert Hoover, Andrew
Mellon, and warren buffet are the lassiez fair leaders. The company uses this leadership style
when they want to provide job satisfaction and job security to the subordinates (Buch, Martinsen
& Kuvaas, 2015).
Conclusion
On the above aforesaid information, it has been concluded that leadership plays a
significant and effective role in every organization in order to enhance and increase the
productivity and efficiency of the employees. There are various types of leadership style like
democratic, autocratic, laissez-faire and transformational leadership styles. Leadership styles are
used by the leaders to maintain control over the subordinates. Various advantages and
disadvantages have been explained in the report.
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References
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Buch, R., Martinsen, Ø. L., & Kuvaas, B. (2015). The destructiveness of laissez-faire leadership
behavior: The mediating role of economic leader–member exchange
relationships. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 22(1), 115-124.
Chaudhry, A. Q., & Javed, H. (2012). Impact of transactional and laissez faire leadership style on
motivation. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3(7).
De Hoogh, A. H., Greer, L. L., & Den Hartog, D. N. (2015). Diabolical dictators or capable
commanders? An investigation of the differential effects of autocratic leadership on team
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Finley, A. (2011). Civic learning and democratic engagements: A review of the literature on
civic engagement in post-secondary education. Unpublished paper. Accessed March, 12,
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Gardner, W. L., Cogliser, C. C., Davis, K. M., & Dickens, M. P. (2011). Authentic leadership: A
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Management Development, 31(1), 7-17.
Ogbeide, G. C. A., & Harrington, R. J. (2011). The relationship among participative management
style, strategy implementation success, and financial performance in the foodservice
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738.
Piccolo, R. F., Bono, J. E., Heinitz, K., Rowold, J., Duehr, E., & Judge, T. A. (2012). The
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Rast III, D. E., Hogg, M. A., & Giessner, S. R. (2013). Self-uncertainty and support for
autocratic leadership. Self and Identity, 12(6), 635-649.
Saeed, T., Almas, S., Anis-ul-Haq, M., & Niazi, G. S. K. (2014). Leadership styles: relationship
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