2.3 leadership and management

Autocratic leadership

refers to leaders who adopt an authoritarian approach by making all the decisions rather than delegating any authority to their subordinates. Instead, the leader simply tells others what to do.

Democratic leadership

refers to the leadership approach that considers the views of others when making decisions. This participative leadership style means that decision-making is decentralized.

Functions of management

refers to the roles of managers, namely the planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling of business operations.

Laissez-faire leadership

is an approach based on having minimal direct input into the work of employees. Instead, they allow subordinates to make their own decisions and to complete tasks in their own way.

Leadership

is the skill of getting things done through other people by inspiring, influencing and invigorating them to achieve organizational goals.

Leadership style

refers to the ways in which decision makers behave or reveal their behaviour. These styles or approaches are categorized as autocratic, paternalistic, democratic, laissez-faire or situational.

Management

is the practice of achieving an organization's objectives by using and controlling the available human and non-human resources of the business in an effective way.

A manager

is someone with decision-making authority within an organization and has responsibility for problem solving in order to achieve specific organizational goals.

Paternalistic leaders

treat their employees as if they were family members, guiding them through a consultation process and acting in the perceived best interest of their subordinates.

Situational leadership

refers to the approach that considers there is no single leadership style that suits all situations. The optimal style depends on situational factors, such as the attitudes, behaviour, and competencies of managers and workers.