Short on time? Get an AI generated summary of this article instead
Organizational success often comes down to leadership style—the leader's ability to make effective decisions while keeping employees engaged and satisfied.
Participative leadership (sometimes called democratic leadership) is a popular method, formally introduced in 1961 by social scientist Rensis Likert (who also developed the Likert scale).
Let's look at this leadership style and its benefits.
Participative leadership involves guiding employees to participate in effective decision-making.
Instead of the leader or manager shouldering the entire responsibility, they delegate, collect opinions, review feedback, and lead the team to make a final decision.
A successful participative leader has an inclusive mindset, excellent communication and mediation skills, the ability to share power, and highly developed empathy.
They must maintain a delicate balance between delegating significant decision-making and taking responsibility for outcomes.
Participation usually follows a structure like this
The leader shares information with the team
Team members discuss the decision opportunity and brainstorm solutions
They collectively narrow the possibilities
A final decision is made by the group (with leader guidance)
The team implements the decision
Even though the entire group participates, the leader is responsible for gathering opinions, sifting through suggestions, and helping the group choose a solution that aligns with organizational goals.
A participative leader creates an atmosphere of transparency, respect, creativity, and innovation. In such an environment, employees will likely thrive since they feel valued and recognized.
Successful participative leaders have keen social intelligence (acquired naturally or with practice). The necessary traits typically include:
Open-mindedness—being open to new ideas, perspectives, and feedback from team members.
Active listening—paying close attention to what others are saying and seeking to understand different perspectives.
Empathy—demonstrating empathy and creating a safe space for open communication even if you disagree with the team member's opinions.
Collaboration—fostering a collaborative work environment where team members feel comfortable working together and sharing diverse ideas.
Flexibility—adapting to circumstances and modifying plans based on the input received from your team.
Trustworthiness—building trust by being reliable, honest, and consistent, including following through on commitments and maintaining confidentiality when necessary.
Coaching