Which leadership style takes full charge of his team?

The correct answer is option 2.

Leadership style is the pattern of behavior that a leader exhibits, in influencing his/her subordinates towards the goals of an organization.
Autocratic leadership style: Taking complete control

Key PointsAutocratic leadership, also known as authoritarian leadership.

Autocratic Style:

• Decision-making: Highly centralized. Leader makes all key decisions with little or no input from team.
• Control: Absolute. Leader dictates tasks, methods, and expectations.
• Communication: One-way. Leader gives instructions and expects compliance.
• Motivation: Extrinsic. Team members are motivated by rewards, punishments, or fear of consequences.
• Suitability: Can be effective in crisis situations or for clear, short-term goals. Risks demotivation, low engagement, and stifled creativity in the long run.

Additional InformationDirective Style:

• Decision-making: Leader makes key decisions but may explain the rationale and welcome limited feedback.
• Control: Significant. Leader sets clear expectations, provides precise instructions, and closely monitors progress.
• Communication: Two-way but controlled. Leader communicates goals and tasks but keeps final say.
• Motivation: Balanced. Leaders use a mix of extrinsic and intrinsic motivators, like clear goals, feedback, and recognition.
• Suitability: Useful for achieving specific goals efficiently, especially with inexperienced teams or in structured environments. May limit team learning and development if overused.

Permissive Style:

• Decision-making: Highly decentralized. Leader gives team extensive freedom to make choices and manage themselves.
• Control: Very minimal. Leader trusts team to take initiative and ownership.
• Communication: Open and two-way. Leader encourages feedback and suggestions.
• Motivation: Intrinsic. Team members are motivated by self-direction and autonomy.
• Suitability: Effective for highly skilled and experienced teams working on independent tasks. May struggle with clear direction and accountability in unstructured environments.

Democratic Style:

• Decision-making: Collaborative. Leader actively seeks input and considers team members' perspectives before making decisions.
• Control: Shared. Leader delegates tasks and empowers team members to contribute actively.
• Communication: Open and collaborative. Leader encourages discussions, feedback, and shared ownership of goals.
• Motivation: Intrinsic. Team members are motivated by involvement, contribution, and shared success.
• Suitability: Fosters creativity, innovation, and high engagement. Can be time-consuming for complex decisions or with large teams.

Confusion PointsBoth autocratic and directive leadership styles involve the leader taking charge and guiding the team towards a goal, but there are some key differences between them:

Level of control:

• Autocratic: Leaders have absolute control over all decisions and tasks. They dictate what needs to be done and how, leaving little to no room for input or participation from team members.
• Directive: Leaders still hold significant control, but they may offer more explanation for their decisions and provide clearer instructions on how to complete tasks. This allows for some limited interpretation and execution by team members.

Focus:

• Autocratic: The emphasis is on obedience and compliance with the leader's directives. This can lead to a more rigid and controlled environment.
• Directive: The focus is on achieving specific goals in an efficient manner. This can create a more results-oriented atmosphere with some flexibility in execution.

Openness to feedback:

• Autocratic: Leaders are generally closed to feedback and suggestions from team members. This can stifle creativity and initiative.
• Directive: While final decisions rest with the leader, they may be more open to receiving feedback and suggestions, particularly on how to achieve the desired outcome.

Motivation:

• Autocratic: Motivation often comes from fear of consequences for not following orders. This can lead to decreased team morale and engagement.
• Directive: While authority figures, directive leaders may use a variety of motivational techniques, such as recognition, rewards, and clear articulation of goals, to inspire their team.

Overall:

• Autocratic leadership: Can be effective in crisis situations or when clear direction is needed quickly. However, it can be demotivating, stifle creativity, and lead to resentment in the long term.
• Directive leadership: Can be efficient and goal-oriented while offering some flexibility and openness to feedback. However, it's still a top-down approach and may not be suitable for situations where collaboration and innovation are crucial.