A democratic leadership style emulates the meaning of its root word, “democracy,” which means “run by the people.” This is also called participative leadership due to the high value placed on team participation.
Key attributes of a democratic leadership style:* gathers input from others before decision making* distributes responsibility* empowers others* facilitates decision making through group discussion
Advantages of a democratic leadership style:– Highly inclusive and collaborative model that values or promotes new ideas.– Fosters an environment conducive to brainstorming which can lead to more creative solutions.– Beneficial for relationship building and offers an effective space for building trust.
Disadvantages of a democratic leadership style:– Emphasis on heavy level of team participation can lengthen decision making process.– Can further emphasize an unhealthy group dynamic, if one is present, which can stall productivity and result.