To follow or To Lead

Taking a team from ordinary to extraordinary means understanding and embracing the difference between management and leadership.

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

There are many styles of leadership, but the Democratic style has gained popularity with notions of an empowered workforce. But how do you get the best from such an approach? Whilst it has much to commend it, as a style of leadership it isn’t necessarily an easy approach to do well. Plus, it isn’t right for many types of business.

A democratic leadership style is an open approach to leading, where decision making is shared and the views of a team or group are valued and contribute to the vision, goals and decisions that are made. The Greek roots of the word democratic suggest people are participating in power or control.

Benefits Of A Democratic Leadership Style.

1, Invites discussion, opinions and views.
2, Builds a consensus.
3, Encourages the ideas and creativity of others.
4, Recognises that people other than the leader may well have ideas about a better way forward.
5, Creates a shared vision and goals.
6, Builds commitment as individuals agree together what needs to be done.
7, But there are limitations of the style. It can cause some of the following:-
8, Difficulties when quick decisions are needed in a crisis.
9, Confusion if communication is not clear about what or whether anything has been decided.
10, When people are in-experienced or don’t feel confident they may struggle with being asked to participate.
11, Some people may regard being asked as a sign that a leader isn’t leading – “I’m not paid to do this – you are!”.

When To Use A Democratic Leadership Style

e ideas and creativity of others.
4, Recognises that people other than the leader may well have ideas about a better way forward.
5, Creates a shared vision and goals.
6, Builds commitment as individuals agree together what needs to be done.
7, But there are limitations of the style. It can cause some of the following:-
8, Difficulties when quick decisions are needed in a crisis.
9, Confusion if communication is not clear about what or whether anything has been decided.
10, When people are in-experienced or don’t feel confident they may struggle with being asked to participate.
11, Some people may regard being asked as a sign that a leader isn’t leading – “I’m not paid to do this – you are!”.

mily:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A democratic leadership style is an open approach to leading, where decision making is shared and the views of a team or group are valued and contribute to the vision, goals and decisions that are made. The Greek roots of the word democratic suggest people are participating in power or control.

Benefits Of A Democratic Leadership Style

1, A democratic leadership style can be a powerful way to realise the potential within teams and organisations. That’s especially the case because:
2, It fits well with the current ideas of empowerment and engagement of staff.
3, It is particularly beneficial for helping get the best out of teams.
4, If fosters creativity and ideas.
5, It builds a sense of commitment and demonstrates that skills and expertise are valued.
6, It makes time to think about important decisions that need everybody to be on-board.
7, It is effective with knowledge workers where their expertise are greater than the leaders.

Cautionary Notes About Adopting A Democratic Leadership Style.

It can be demanding seeking to consult and achieve consensus.

It should not be an excuse for procrastination. Discuss, consult and then come to a decision and act. Avoid the situation of becoming bogged down in meetings that don’t go anywhere.

The democratic leader builds consensus through participation. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be "What do you think?" The democratic style is most effective when the leader needs the team to buy into or have ownership of a decision, plan, or goal, or if he or she is uncertain and needs fresh ideas from qualified teammates. It is not the best choice in an emergency situation, when time is of the essence for another reason or when teammates are not informed enough to offer sufficient guidance to the leader.

Bottom line? In my view, if you take two cups of authoritative leadership, one cup of democratic, coaching, and affiliative leadership, and a dash of pacesetting and coercive leadership "to taste," and you lead based on need in a way that elevates and inspires your team, you’ve got an excellent recipe for long-term leadership success with every team in your life.

So what are your views on democratic leadership? I’m interested to know how it has helped, or hindered you and your business, let me know.

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