Definition
First described by Lewin, Lippitt, and White in 1938, the laissez faire leadership style was one of three leadership types documented. The laissez faire style is sometimes described as a "hands off" leadership style because the leader provides little or no direction to the followers.
Explanation
Lewin, Lippitt, and White were one of the first researchers to categorize leadership styles in terms of behavioral characteristics. Prior to their work, leadership traits were the focus of leadership studies. In addition to the laissez faire leader, this team also described the autocratic leadership and the democratic leadership styles.
The characteristics of the laissez faire style include:
Allows followers to have absolute freedom to make decisions concerning the completion of their work or ask questions of the leader
Provides the followers with the materials they need to accomplish their goals and answers the follower's questions
Related Terms
- First described by Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence, or EI, is the ability to control, and understand one's own emotions, motivations, strengths, and weaknesses as well as those of others.
Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023 - The study of the actions, or behaviors, that define a leader is known as behavioral leadership. First developed by Robert Blake and Jane Mouton in 1964, this theoretical approach to understanding leaders creates categories of styles, which are aligned with the actions the leader may take, or the methods they use to reach their goals.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 25th, 2023
First described by Lewin, Lippitt, and White in 1938, the democratic leadership style was one of three leadership types documented. The democratic leader was also acknowledged by Daniel Goleman in 2002, as one of his six leadership styles.Moneyzine EditorNovember 22nd, 2023
First described by Lewin, Lippitt, and White in 1938, the autocratic leadership style was one of three leadership types documented. The autocratic leadership style is sometimes referred to as the directive leadership style, with characteristics that include:Moneyzine EditorNovember 22nd, 2023
