Democratic leadership is a type of leadership that takes each member of the group's opinion, or vote into account.
This style of leadership is particularly good at making each individual feel more included in the process, more engaged and more heard, leading to an increase in productivity, morale and participation.
When democratic decisions are taken on projects and tasks the result is often group members who are highly invested in the project's success and committed to seeing it through to completion. Creativity and good ideas are also encouraged through this style of leadership which can be extremely useful when the challenges require this.
However, democratic leadership, like all styles of leadership, is not a one-size-fits-all style and also has its downsides that need to be considered.
Much like the 2014 Elections currently being contested, democratic decisions in the workplace are a time-consuming process. This means that democratic decisions may not always be the most appropriate, i.e. when time is a luxury you do not have.
One also needs to consider the nature of the decision being put to vote - are the voters qualified, i.e. do they have the required knowledge and expertise to make an informed decision?
Democratic leadership is a highly inclusive and motivational form of leadership which is typically very effective, as long as the group members have the required skills and knowledge, and that there is sufficient time for everyone to contribute and vote.
Find out more about different leadership styles with our 3 Day Leadership + Course.
Staff Training is a soft skills training provider. For more info on our training options please call (021) 839 3021 or drop us an email.