Question

A nurse is planning a seminar on leadership styles. Which of the following statements describes a democratic leadership style?

1. The leader assumes a "hands off" approach
2. Under this leadership style, the group may feel secure because procedures are well defined and activities are predictable
3. This leadership style demands that the leader have faith in the group members to accomplish goals.
4. This leadership style does not trust self or others to make decisions and instead relies on the organization's rules, policies, and procedures to direct the group's work efforts.

Answer 1

A democratic leadership style is characterized by the leader's faith in the group members and the encouragement of group participation and consensus-building before taking action.

Step-by-step explanation:

In reference to the student's question about which statement describes a democratic leadership style, the correct answer is that this leadership style demands that the leader have faith in the group members to accomplish goals. Specifically, democratic leaders encourage group participation in all decision making and strive to build consensus before choosing a course of action and moving forward. Unlike laissez-faire leaders who adopt a 'hands-off' approach, or authoritarian leaders who rely on a top-down communication pattern and strict adherence to organizational rules, democratic leaders trust in the group's abilities and seek to foster security through collaborative efforts.