1. Topic 3
Leadership Style
Leadership: Theory and Practice:
Chapter 4 Style Approach
Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice:
Chapter 3 Recognizing Your Philosophy and Style of Leadership
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2. Discussion Questions
• What is your philosophy of leadership?
• What are your beliefs about human
behavior?
• What sort of leader are you: authoritarian,
democratic, or laissez-faire?
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3. Views of Human Behavior
• Fundamental question of human behavior:
Do people like work or do they try to avoid it?
• Douglas McGregor believed managers had
two views of human nature with very different
assumptions:
oTheory X
oTheory Y
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4. Assumptions of Theory X
1. People dislike work & will try to avoid it.
2. People need to be directed & controlled.
3. People want security, not responsibility.
What implications does Theory X have
for leaders & organizations?
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5. Assumptions of Theory Y
1. People don’t inherently dislike work; doing
work is as natural as play.
2. People will show responsibility & selfcontrol toward goals to which they are
committed.
3. People accept & seek responsibility.
What implications does Theory Y
have for leaders & organizations?
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6. McGregor’s Theory X & Y Managers
According to McGregor, managers can be grouped
depending on how they view their workers.
He called the two types of manager:
• Theory X managers – these link closely to
autocratic management
• Theory Y managers – these link closely to
democratic management
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7. Styles of Leadership
• Autocratic/Authoritarian
• Paternalistic
• Democratic
• Laissez-faire
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8. Autocratic (authoritarian)
Features of autocratic management:
• The manager retains control and takes all the decisions
• There is little consultation with workers
• Subordinates are expected to obey instructions
Benefits:
Drawbacks:
• Autocratic management allows
quick decisions to be made
• Often necessary during crisis
situations
• Can ensure that the direction of
the organisation remains in line
with organisational objectives
• Workers may become dependent
on the managers
• Little creativity is encouraged
• Employees may not be given the
opportunity to express their ideas
• May lead to workers feeling
ignored or demotivated

9. Authoritarian Style
• Like Theory X, Authoritarian leaders perceive
subordinates as needing direction.
• Authoritarian leaders exert influence & control
over group members.
o Communication is top-down.
o The agenda is set by the leaders.
o Praise/criticism is given freely, but it is based on
personal standards.
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10. Outcomes of Authoritarian Style
• Positive Outcomes:
o Efficient & productive
o More can be accomplished in a short period of time
• Negative Outcomes:
o Fosters dependence, submissiveness, &
decreases individuality
o Can create hostility & discontent
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11. Paternalistic
Features of paternalistic management:
• Similar to autocratic management but the leader makes decisions based
on the best interests of the workers
• Managers take most of the responsibility for decision making although
there may be some consultation with workers
Benefits:
Drawbacks:
• Employees feel valued
• The workers may be persuaded
that the decisions made are in their
best interests
• Little scope for employees to make
decisions
• There is still a ‘them and us’ culture
with paternalistic management

12. Democratic
Features of democratic management:
• Employees are encouraged to participate in and influence decision
making e.g. through suggestions schemes, quality circles and worker
directors
• Information is shared with team members
• A single-status culture is encouraged
Benefits:
Drawbacks:
• Democratic management can
gain commitment, especially
during periods of change
• Employees are more likely to
buy into decisions
• Motivation may improve
• Decision making can become
slower

13. Democratic Style
• Resembles assumptions of Theory Y
• Subordinates are capable of working on their
own
• Leader works with subordinates & treats
them in an egalitarian manner
• Leader does not speak down to group
members; rather, they speak on the same
level
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14. Outcomes of Democratic Style
• Negative Outcomes:
oIt takes more time & commitment
than authoritarian leadership
oCan result in inefficiencies & lower
productivity
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15. Outcomes of Democratic Style
• Positive Outcomes:
o Greater group member satisfaction,
commitment, & cohesiveness
o More friendliness, mutual praise, & group
mindedness
o Stronger worker motivation & greater
originality
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16. Laissez-faire
Features of laissez-faire management:
• Little direction is given to the workers
• Broad guidelines may be provided but the day-to-day influence of
managers is limited
• Subordinates are free to make decisions
Benefits:
Drawbacks:
• Useful for skilled, creative and
well-trained employees
• Can motivate workers as they
have more control over their
working lives
• Decision-making can become
very time-consuming and may
lack direction
• May lead to chaos if good
teamwork, feedback and working
relationships are not evident

17. Laissez-Faire Style
• Dissimilar to both Theory X & Theory Y;
typically considered to be non-leadership
• The leader is nominal & only engages in
minimal influence
• Literally takes a “hands off” attitude
• The leader does not try to influence or
control the group
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18. Outcomes of Laissez-Faire Style
• Very few, if any, positive outcomes
• Negative outcomes:
o
Very little accomplished
o
Group members feel directionless
o
Group members become unmotivated &
disheartened
• When, if ever, do you think laissez-faire
leadership is appropriate? Why?
© 2012 SAGE Publications, Inc.

19. Styles of Leadership
Leadership Styles – Geese, Eagles & Turkeys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMuawiTn26Q
Complete 3.1
Leadership Styles Questionnaire
Analyze results
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20. What Is Your Style?
• No one is entirely one style or the other.
• Our styles shift, depending on the
situation.
• Leadership lies along a continuum:
o from high leader influence to low leader influence.
© 2012 SAGE Publications, Inc.

21. Leadership That Gets Results
(article)
• Harvard Business Review (March-April 2000)
Identifies six leadership styles …
1.The Coercive Style
2.The Authoritative Style
3.The Affiliative Style
4.The Democratic Style
5.The Pacesetting Style
6.The Coaching Style
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22. Leadership That Gets Results
(article)
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23. Leadership That Gets Results
(article)
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24. Leadership That Gets Results
(article)
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25. Factors influencing leadership style
• The personality of the manager
• The skills and abilities of the manager
• The skills and abilities of the team of workers
• The tradition and culture of the organisation
• The type of industry
• Circumstances
• The nature of the tasks being carried out

26. Styles of Leadership
Identify Leadership Styles
Complete Questionnaire
Put into groups
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27. In Class Exercise
• Case Studies
• Review and discuss in your group and
come to consensus on answers to the
questions.
• We will compare results.
© 2012 SAGE Publications, Inc.