Final answer:
The statement is false, as consultative leaders are not the same as participative or democratic leaders, and authoritarian leaders often demonstrate a harsher form of leadership than consultative leaders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement suggesting that the harshest form of leadership is demonstrated by a consultative leader who believes they are a participative leader is false. Consultative leaders differ from participative or democratic leaders, as they might seek the opinion of others but ultimately make the final decision themselves. In contrast, democratic leaders encourage group participation in all decision making and work to build consensus, though this can be time-consuming and may lead to the factional division. On the other hand, authoritarian leaders, which are considered to have a harsher approach, issue orders and assign tasks with little to no feedback from group members. This style can be seen in those with strong focuses on meeting goals, such as entrepreneurs. Therefore, it’s not accurate to label consultative leadership as the harshest form.