Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCharacteristicsExamplesBenefitsDisadvantagesLeaders' StrengthsWhen to AvoidTips to ImproveAssessment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Characteristics
Examples
Benefits
Disadvantages
Leaders' Strengths
When to Avoid
Tips to Improve
Assessment
Close
Verywell / Hugo Lin
Laissez-faire leadership, also known as delegative leadership, is a type ofleadership stylein which leaders are hands-off and allow group members to make the decisions. Researchers have found that this leadership style often leads to the lowest productivity among group members.
Laissez-faire leadership can have both benefits and possible pitfalls. There are also certain settings and situations where laissez-faire leadership might be the most appropriate.
To help make laissez-faire leadership more effective, leaders can check in on work performance and give regular feedback.It’s also helpful for leaders to recognize when this style should be best utilized, such as with team members who are experts at what they do.Keep reading to learn more.
Characteristics of Laissez-Faire Leadership
While “laissez-faire” implies a completely hands-off approach, many leaders still remain open and available to group members for consultation and feedback. They might provide direction at the beginning of a project, but then allow group members to do their jobs with little oversight.
This approach to leadership requires a great deal of trust.Leaders need to feel confident that the members of their group possess the skills, knowledge, and follow-through to complete a project withoutbeing micromanaged.
Examples of Laissez-Faire Leadership
Here’s how laissez-faire leadership could look in different settings:
Benefits of Laissez-Faire Leadership
Like other types of leadership, the laissez-faire style has its advantages.
To benefit from these advantages, certain preconditions have to be met. For instance, if your team is full of highly skilled and experienced people capable of working on their own, this approach might work. Since these group members are experts and have the knowledge and skills to work independently, they can accomplish tasks with very little guidance.
This style is particularly effective in situations where group members are more knowledgeable than the group’s leader.The laissez-faire leader allows them to demonstrate their deep knowledge and skill surrounding that particular subject.
This autonomy can be freeing to some group members and help them feel more satisfied with their work.The laissez-faire style can be used in situations where followers have a high level of passion andintrinsic motivationfor their work.
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Disadvantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership
Because the laissez-faire style depends so heavily on the abilities of the group, it is not very effective in situations where team members lack the knowledge or experience they need to complete tasks and make decisions. This can lead to poor job performance and less job satisfaction.
Possible disadvantages of the laissez-faire style include:
If team members are unfamiliar with the process or tasks, leaders are better off taking a more hands-on approach. They can switch back to a more delegative approach as team members gain more experience.
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Strengths of Laissez-Faire Leaders
If you have a more laissez-faire approach to leadership, there are areas and situations where you might tend to do better.
For example, a delegative leader might excel in a product design field. Because team members are well-trained and highly creative, they likely need little in the way of direct management. Instead, an effective leader can provide minimal oversight and guidance and still produce high-quality results.
When to Avoid Laissez-Faire Leadership
Even in situations where a laissez-faire leadership style may be helpful, such as in a creative field or with self-managed teams, it may pay to utilize a variety of leadership approaches at different phases of the work process.
Laissez-faire leadership may be most effective during the early phases when a product or idea is being brainstormed or created. Once the design is in place and ready for production, however, it may be best to switch to a style that involves more direction and oversight.
Generally, this leadership style is not suitable for:
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Tips to Improve Laissez-Faire Leadership
To make laissez-faire leadership more effective, you can try:
Are You a Laissez-Faire Leader?
Try ourfast and free quizto find out if you lean toward laissez-faire leadership or one of the other styles.
Final Thoughts
Often dismissed as a style that leads to poor group outcomes, laissez-faire leadership can be effective in a variety of situations. If you tend to be more of a laissez-faire leader, you may find it helpful to think about the sort of situations this style might excel.
In settings where the group needs more oversight or direction, you may find that you need to consciously focus on adopting a more authoritarian ordemocratic approach. By examining your own style, you can hone your skills andbecome a better leader.
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8 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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İhtiyaroğlu N.Analyzing the relationship between happiness, teachers’ level of satisfaction with life and classroom management profiles.Universal J Educ Res. 2018;6(10):2227-2237. doi:10.13189/ujer.2018.061021
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