What are the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic, consultative, democratic, and laissez-faire leadership styles?
The autocratic leadership style produces high productivity and is useful in crisis situations; but it inhibits creativity, inhibits follower autonomy, promotes mistrust among followers, and promotes hostility or passivity among followers. Consultative leadership allows followers greater understanding of a decision, but may require great effort by the leader. Democratic leadership empowers team members, facilitates communication, and increases creativity and autonomy; but it is time-consuming, less efficient, and prone to disagreement among team leaders. Laissez-faire leadership promotes autonomy and creativity in followers, but may evoke possibility, aimless behavior, chaos, inefficiency, and low productivity.
