A leadership style that promotes the active participation of workers in taking decisions

• A. Laissez-faire Leadership
• B. Authoritarian Leadership
• C. Situational Leadership
• D. Democratic Leadership

Answer: (D)

Active participation of workers in decisions is the hallmark of democratic leadership, also called participative leadership. In this approach, the leader seeks input, discusses options, and shares decision-making with the team, which helps build ownership, brings in diverse ideas, and improves commitment and morale. It works especially well when team members have relevant expertise and when coordinated action and buy-in are important. The authoritarian style centers on the leader making decisions alone, while the laissez-faire style is more hands-off with limited direction from the leader. Situational leadership focuses on adapting the leader’s approach to the followers and context, not specifically on fostering ongoing participation in every decision. Because the emphasis is on active worker input and shared decision-making, democratic leadership is the best fit.