The democratic style, also referred to as participative leadership, involved the subordinates in the decision-making. Strategic Communication Management. Democratic leadership style examples: Google, Facebook, Microsoft and etc. Democratic leaders count other’s participation in the decision making process. The democratic leadership style is a method that includes participative leadership and sharing in the responsibilities in a team environment. This type of leadership is one of the most effective and successful one that can bring success to the organization. styles of democratic leadership (Bass, 1990). It dates to the 1930s and '40s. Ask yourself questions such as: What is the goal? Let them know why you are using this approach (e.g., that you value their feedback and want to improve something), what the goals are (e.g., coming up with a number of ideas before deciding upon a course of action), and what may be some pitfalls of the process (e.g., that it may take some time but is still important). This style of leadership is also known as participative style of leadership. The most effective leaders are the ones who know when to use this style versus another. What’s the most important outcome I am looking for from using this approach? The democratic leadership style consists of the leader sharing the decision-making abilities with group members by promoting the interests of the group members and by practicing social equality. The Advantages Of Democratic Leadership In The Workplace. This leadership style also leads to deeper relationships between the leader and their team members by building trust and respect. Democratic leadership style, the one you are reading about now; Autocratic leadership which is essentially when a leader retains all the decision-making power. The democratic leadership style creates resonance by valuing input from everyone. Ideas move freely amongst the group and are discussed openly. A democratic leader is someone who asks for input and considers feedback from their team before making a decision. There’s the leader who wants to make sure people feel heard and understood and the leader who prefers to exert authority. One of the earliest frameworks on leadership styles was proposed by a team of researchers led by psychologist Kurt Lewin in the 1930s. Most leaders fall into one of six types of leadership styles: democratic, visionary, coaching, affiliative, pacesetting and commanding. Also, there are ways to overcome those downsides. The democratic leadership style (also called the participative style) is a combination of the autocratic and laissez-faire types of leaders. Block, MD, Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE, Verywell Mind uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. What are some situations at work where you can experiment with this leadership style? What are some benefits that might come with it? This leadership style is considered to be one of the most effective for leaders in executive positions, and it can bring myriad benefits to an organisation.. Everyone is given a seat at the table, and discussion is relatively free-flowing. The word “democracy” originates from the Greek words “demos” (the people) and “kratia” (power or rule.) Employees are given a lot of significance and are consulted on different organizational matters. Luthans (1998) reviewed 8 different democratic leadership styles drawn from the classic studies and theories of leadership. The group members are always encouraged to share their ideas and thoughts, hence the development of more creative solutions for problems (Gastil, 1994, p.954). The democratic style of leadership can be further categorized into three types: Consensus: A consensus leader makes a decision only after consulting the group members. How can we create a safe environment for everyone to openly share their thoughts? Over time, these team members are in a better position to take on bigger responsibilities and operate more independently. But how do you define democratic leadership? The Psychology Behind Why We Strive for Consensus, How to Become a Stronger and More Effective Leader. In addition, this approach can potentially create tension between those with differing perspectives and opinions. styles of democratic leadership (Bass, 1990). This style fosters cooperation and individual growth among employees. Democratic leaders respect others’ opinions and take them into consideration as a final decision is made. Luthans (1998) reviewed 8 different democratic leadership styles drawn from the classic studies and theories of leadership. For example, you could discuss questions such as: You can also look at structuring the conversation in different phases. If you have decided to use this approach for a specific situation, communicating openly with your team is the next crucial step. Martindale N. Leadership styles: How to handle the different personas. In this style, the subordinates are also involved in decision making. Democratic Leadership Style: Believes in communication and participation of subordinates in decision-making. The different ways in which leaders interact with their teams are known as leadership styles, and while the most effective leaders combine various styles of leadership based on the need of the hour, most leaders exhibit a dominant style. In Autocratic leadership, One person takes all the decisions and asks very little advice of their subordinates. These different definitions and styles have contributed to the fact that there has been no clear, well-developed definition of democratic leadership (Gastil, 1994). Democratic leadership works best in situations where group members are skilled and eager to share their knowledge. honest praise and criticism, and a degree of comradeship. As mentioned earlier, there are some challenges associated with a democratic leadership style. Democratic leadership style promotes empowerment, creativity, participation, and innovation in the workplace. We’ll look at three of them here. However, it’s important to note that while extremely effective in certain situations, a democratic leadership is not without its limitations. Democratic nursing leaders balance individual accountability with overall process improvement to drive quality enhancements. In some cases, group members may not have the necessary knowledge or expertise to make quality contributions to the decision-making process. For instance, Dorothy Roberts, executive director of Echo Scarv… Make sure people commit to execution. Minority or individual opinions overridden, Because group members are encouraged to share their thoughts, democratic leadership can lead to better ideas and more creative solutions to problems. For example, phase one can be setting some ground rules and establishing psychological safety; phase two could be brainstorming ideas; phase three could be narrowing down the options; and, phase four could be making the final decision and plan for execution. Democratic leadership style dates back to the 1930s, when Kurt Lewin, the famous researcher of behavioural science, helped identify this style of leadership in various enterprises. If you’ve worked in an organization of any kind, chances are you are familiar with different kinds of leaders and their unique ways of working. What Are the Pros and Cons of Autocratic Leadership? A democratic leadership style is an open approach to leading, where decision making is shared and the views of a team or group are valued and contribute to the vison, goals and decision that are made. A systematic review of the desired competencies and standard settings for physicians' leadership, What is democratic/participative leadership? This style implies a competent combination of one-man management with simultaneous involvement of wage-earners to the company’s development. While the leader maintains control of the decision-making process and has the final say, workers are given a voice in the decision-making process. Management. Definition of Democratic Leadership. Members of the group feel more engaged in the process. Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. Laissez-Faire Leadership in Nursing . Democratic Style of Leadership. Researchers have found that the democratic leadership style is one of the most effective types and leads to higher productivity, better contributions from group members, and increased group morale.. Democratic leadership is a style of leadership which involves taking all opinions into consideration, making a decision based on others' input and sharing out the responsibility equally. Participative Leadership (Democratic) Lewin’s study found that participative leadership, also known as democratic leadership, is typically the most effective leadership style. Make sure you have a way to get everyone onboard with the plan, commit to their deliverables, and stay accountable. Anyone can practice this leadership style. As we have seen, a democratic leadership style is not a panacea and there will be times when it’s not the most effective approach. Amanchukwu RN, Nwachukwu OP, Stanley GJ. The democratic leader is charged with deciding who is in the group and who gets to contribute to the decisions that are made. Democratic leadership can also result in team members feeling like their opinions and ideas aren't taken into account, which may lower employee satisfaction and morale. Updated June 1, 2018. This helps with the job satisfaction level of the employees. Democratic leadership, also known as participative leadership or shared leadership, is a type of leadership style in which members of the group take a more participative role in the decision-making process. This leadership style values collaboration and affirmation of followers. A systematic review of the desired competencies and standard settings for physicians' leadership. There’s the leader who wants to closely monitor when and how you work, and the leader whose main concern is whether or not the work gets done. The democratic leadership style, which is also sometimes referred to as participative style, actively involves employees in the decision-making processes of the organization. However, you may still need the whole team for effective execution of the decision and/or plan. Saudi Med J. An executive has to lead different types of subordinates and has to adopt different styles for leading them at … Democratic leadership style creates high productivity, increased morale within the group and better contributions from the members. The research by Goleman et al. However, democratic style of leadership requires control and guidance by a leader. Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Democratic nursing leaders balance individual accountability with overall process improvement to drive quality enhancements. 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