3.2.1 Understanding management, leadership and decision making Flashcards
(30 cards)
Name the four leadership styles you need to know.
Autocratic, paternalistic, democratic, laissez-faire.
How does an autocratic leader manage their team?
They make decisions without consulting employees. This can increase speed but may reduce motivation and creativity.
How does a paternalistic leader operate?
They make decisions in the best interest of employees, like a parent figure — involving some consultation but retaining control.
What is democratic leadership?
Involves employees in decision-making. This can improve motivation and innovation but may slow decisions down.
What is laissez-faire leadership?
Hands-off approach — leaders give employees autonomy. Can work with highly skilled staff, but may lead to confusion or lack of direction.
How can leadership style impact employee motivation?
Styles like democratic can boost morale and creativity, while autocratic can lower engagement but improve efficiency in crises.
Autocratic Leadership
An autocratic leader makes decisions independently.
This may be effective during emergencies or with inexperienced staff.
It allows fast decision-making and strong control.
However, it can demotivate staff and stifle creativity.
What factors influence leadership style?
Nature of the task, employee skill level, time pressure, company culture, and leader’s personality.
Paternalistic Leadership
Paternalistic leaders make decisions in employees’ best interests.
This creates a sense of care and loyalty in the workforce.
Staff may feel more valued and secure.
However, it still limits employee input in decision-making.
Democratic Leadership
Democratic leaders involve employees in decisions.
This can increase motivation and job satisfaction.
Staff feel trusted and may contribute innovative ideas.
But it may slow decisions, especially in urgent situations.
Laissez-Faire Leadership
Laissez-faire leaders offer minimal guidance and leave decisions to staff.
This empowers experienced employees and promotes creativity.
However, it may cause confusion or reduced accountability if the team lacks self-motivation.
Outline one benefit of autocratic leadership.
One benefit of autocratic leadership is faster decision-making, as the manager makes choices without consulting others. This is useful in emergencies where quick, decisive action is needed.
Identify a factor that might influence a manager’s leadership style.
One factor that might influence leadership style is the nature of the task. For example, a complex or time-sensitive task may require a more autocratic approach.
Why might a business use paternalistic leadership?
To build trust and loyalty by making decisions in employees’ best interests; useful in small or family-run businesses.
How can laissez-faire leadership affect employee performance?
Boosts creativity and independence in skilled staff, but risks low direction and confusion in less confident teams.
How does the Tannenbaum Schmidt continuum help leaders?
Shows a spectrum from boss-centred to team-centred leadership; helps leaders choose style based on task, time, and staff ability.
How can democratic leadership affect motivation?
Increases engagement and job satisfaction by valuing input, but can cause delays or confusion if overused.
Impact of autocratic leadership in a crisis?
Enables fast, decisive action (ideal short-term), but can harm long-term morale and staff engagement if used too often.
How does leadership style affect decision-making?
Democratic style leads to inclusive, creative decisions but slower process; autocratic style is fast but may ignore valuable input.
What does the Tannenbaum Schmidt Continuum show?
It presents a spectrum of leadership behaviours from autocratic to democratic, rather than just categorising leaders as one or the other.
distinction between management and leadership
The manager’s job is to plan, organize and coordinate. The leader’s job is to inspire and motivate.
When is autocratic leadership most effective?
In crises or time-sensitive situations where quick decisions are needed and employee input would slow progress.
Why might paternalistic leadership be effective in smaller firms?
It creates loyalty and trust, as employees feel cared for — useful in close-knit teams or family businesses.
What is a limitation of paternalistic leadership?
Employees may feel patronised or overlooked if they are capable of making their own decisions.
