Democratic leadership is a type of leadership that characterized by equal participation to all members of a team. Whereas every members in a team has a room to contribute his or her ideas and opinions in decision-making and problem-solving process. This is a highly recommended form of leadership since it encourages team work, motivation and creativity and the results are high working morale, creative solutions to problems and increase in productivity in a team.
Democratic leaders always collaborate with their teams in making decisions and solving various problems, however, still leaders can make final decisions on their own. This leadership style is ideal to teams performing tasks that require flowing of creative ideas and collaboration.
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What is Democratic leadership?
democratic leadership also known as participative leadership or shared leadership, refers to as leadership style that allows every member of a team to contribute in decision-making process. Whereas a leader discuss with his or her team and ask the team to give their ideas, suggestions and opinions before making final decision.
Characteristics of Democratic leadership
Collaboration
Creativity
Engagement
Every team member is involved in making decisions and solving problems.
You can also read: Laissez-faire Leadership Style: Meaning, Characteristics, When to use, Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of Democratic leadership
1. Helps to get creative solution to problems
Democratic leadership style involves contribution of ideas and opinions from all team members, which can help a team to get a pool of best ideas that can help to come up with the best decision and solution to the problems.
2. Boosts working morale and productivity
Team members who led by a democratic leader usually feel involved and valued simply because their leader gives them a room to contribute their inputs in decision-making process, the sense of feeling valued can help to boost working morale and increase productivity in a team.
3. Builds good relationship between leaders and their subordinates
Democratic leaders collaborate with their team members to find out the solution to problems and make major decisions in an organization. This can build good relationship between leaders and their followers.
4. Lowers turnover and absenteeism
Working together and being involved in the major decisions of a team can bring sense of being valued to the members. The team members are more likely to stay with a team or organization when feel valued, knowing that they are important in a team. Thus, this may lower turnover and absenteeism.
Disadvantages of democratic leadership
It can be time consuming: This style of leadership involves inputs from all members of the group, which may take long time to collect opinions and ideas as well as discussing them to come up with conclusion or final decision. In this case, this style of leadership is only good when there is enough time for discussion. It is not be good in a situation where quick decisions are required.
When to use Democratic style?
Democratic style is good when a team has enough time for discussion. It also works best when a team performs tasks or projects that require innovative ideas. Furthermore, leaders who want to encourage collaboration to their groups, this style can be ideal for them.
This style of leadership is not good when time is limited, where there is no time for discussion. Don't apply this style in the moment when tasks are required to be done very quickly.
You can also read:
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- Five Functions Of Management By KOONTZ And O’DONNEL
- 3 management skills for managers
- Autocratic Leadership Style: Meaning, Characteristics, Advantages And Disadvantages
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