Final answer:
John is best described as a passive management by exception leader, characterized by a hands-off approach and intervention only when necessary. The correct answer is option d.
Step-by-step explanation:
John's behavior as a manager, who gets involved only when someone is failing to complete required tasks, best describes a passive management by exception leadership style. This style is characterized by a hands-off approach where the leader intervenes only when problems become serious, as opposed to actively monitoring team members and addressing issues proactively. The opposite of this style might be an active management by exception leader, who actively looks for deviations from standards and takes corrective actions, or an active individual consideration leader, who provides personalized attention to each team member.