Psychologia

  • BLOG
  • 16 TYPES
  • 4 TEMPERAMENTS
  • ENNEAGRAM
  • TESTS
  • PERSONALITY
You are here: Home / Success / Participative Leadership Theory and Decision-making Style

Participative Leadership Theory and Decision-making Style


Contents
How It Works
Four Types of Participative Decision-making
Pros and Cons of Participative Leadership
Participative leadership, also known as democratic leadership, is one of the four participative decision-making styles where employers invite employees to take a part in organizational decision-making. While this leadership style is not as common in the corporate world, some professions require this type of attitude, e.g., social workers, arbitrators, group therapists, and facilitators. Some of the most famous examples of participative leaders in the corporate world include Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Bob Diamond, James Parker, Jim Lentz, and John Stahl.

♦
How it works
Here is how participative leadership works:

Pros and Cons of Participative Leadership

While participative leadership comes in several flavors, there is a common pattern that is present in most of these types:

  • the leader facilitates the conversation;
  • the leader openly shares information and knowledge necessary for decision-making;
  • the leader encourages people to share their ideas;
  • the leader synthesizes all the available information and solutions suggested by the team;
  • the leader comes up with the best possible solution and communicates it back to the group.

♦
Four Types of Participative Decision-Making
Pros and Cons of Participative Leadership Theory

What makes you the way you are? Take THIS TEST to discover your personality type.

There are four types of participative decision-making with democratic (or participative) leadership being only one of them. All of these styles are somewhat similar and have similar advantages and disadavantages. They are


  • collective,
  • democratic,
  • autocratic,
  • consensus.

Collective decision-making is a form of leadership style where all decisions are taken by the group, and the responsibility for these decisions are also entirely on the group. One of the characteristics of collective leadership is that during the decision-making process the group must develop clear lines of authority that define the responsibilities of each member.

Democratic or participative leadership encourages participation of all members, but the final decision is taken by the leader. Once the decision is taken, the leader has to communicate it back to the group and resolve possible objections if any.

Autocratic participative decision-making implies that while possible solutions are brainstormed collectively, the responsibility of taking the final decision is still on the leader alone. Autocratic leadership style allows the organization to benefit from the collective input provided by all employees while making decisions reasonably fast.

Democratic and autocratic styles of participative leadership may seem to be very much alike, but the difference is that while autocratic leadership is more goal oriented, i.e. to get results and meet deadlines, democratic leadership is more people-oriented and quality-oriented. The advantage of autocratic decision-making over democratic is that the results are obtained much faster.

Consensus decision-making is a leadership style where the leader gives up control and responsibility of decision-making, leaving it entirely to the group. The decision has to be approved by the majority of the group while the minority of those who don’t agree initially have to agree to go along. In other words, the decision has to be modified to remove any objectionable features so that the minority can agree with it.

♦
Pros and Cons of Participative Leadership
Participative Leadership Theory and Decision-making Style

Participative leadership model is very much in vogue these days with many supporters promoting its advantages:

  • All of the members of the team feel valued and in control;
  • The team tends to perform better because the members are more committed to achieving the goals and objectives of the organization;
  • The team performs well even when the leader is absent;
  • Increased group morale;
  • Decreased competitiveness.

However, there is a number of serious disadvantages to be considered as well:

  • The members may feel social pressure to conform to group domination;
  • Decision-making may take a long time;
  • High unnecessary costs;
  • Incompetence;
  • Indecisiveness;
  • Inefficiency.

Different approaches may be more appropriate for specific situations.
You may be interested in this leadership test.

Here is another useful tool: Become a Better Manager (MP3 download)

ad ONLINE THERAPY THAT TRULY WORKS:
Online CBT Platform to Help Deal with Relationship Problems, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, and More. Includes professional follow-up by a CBT therapist. Click here to get started.


Related Posts:

  • Top-Earning Personality Types
  • Leadership Test: Are You a Leader, a Follower, or a Tyrant?
  • What is Irrational Confidence and Is It a Good Thing?
  • Imposter Syndrome Test
  • 6 Reasons to Hire an INTJ

Tagged With: career, decision making, infographic, leadership, pros, success

NARCISSISTS
SOCIOPATHS
RELATIONSHIPS
INFOGRAPHICS

We do not collect your personal information; however, our ad partners may use personalized ad targeting based on your previous browsing history. Personalization helps deliver more relevant ads. If it bothers you, you can opt out of ad personalization here.

Poser Test: Are You a Show-Off?

Poser Test: Are You a Show-Off?

Defense Mechanisms: Test Your Unconscious Coping Techniques

Defense Mechanisms: Test Your Unconscious Coping Techniques

Depersonalization Test (DDD)

Depersonalization Test (DDD)

Sense of Entitlement Quiz: Are You Setting Up Yourself for Disappointment?

Sense of Entitlement Quiz: Are You Setting Up Yourself for Disappointment?

Infographic: Psychopath Vs. Sociopath

Infographic: Psychopath Vs. Sociopath

Enneagram Test: Here's How You Adapted to the World

Enneagram Test: Here’s How You Adapted to the World

People Pleaser Quiz

People Pleaser Quiz

Crazy in Love: 4 Psychological Love Disorders

Crazy in Love: 4 Psychological Love Disorders

TEST: Are you a Doer or a Thinker? Action-taking vs. Planning

TEST: Are you a Doer or a Thinker? Action-taking vs. Planning

Fear of Rejection Test: Are You Too Sensitive?

Fear of Rejection Test: Are You Too Sensitive?

Infographic: Emotional Manipulation

Infographic: Psychological Manipulation

TEST: Do You Have What It Takes to Succeed at Work?

TEST: Do You Have What It Takes to Succeed at Work?

Leadership Style Quiz: Authoritative, Participative, or Laissez-faire?

Leadership Style Quiz: Authoritative, Participative, or Laissez-faire?

Four Temperaments: Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric, and Melancholic Personality Types

Four Temperaments: Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric, and Melancholic Personality Types

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Test

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Test – Narcissism vs. Assertiveness

What Type of Person am I? 14 FREE Psychological Tests

What Type of Person Am I? 14 FREE Psychological Tests to Find Out

Toxic Relationship Quiz

Toxic Relationship Quiz

Am I Needy Quiz

Am I Needy Quiz

Locus of Control: External or Internal?

Locus of Control: External or Internal? [TEST]

What Type of Therapist Should I See [Quiz]

What Type of Therapist Should I See [Quiz]

16 PERSONALITY TYPES

IIIIIIIV
ESTPESTJENFJENTJ
ISTPISTJINFJINTJ
ESFPESFJENFPENTP
ISFPISFJINFPINTP

Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Affiliate Disclaimer · Contact · This website uses cookies -- Cookie Policy