The Power of Inclusivity: The Key Components of My Participative Leadership Style
According to Birkman, my leadership approach could be classified as Participative leadership or
Democratic leadership. Democratic leadership is defined as the process of joint decision-making or
shared influence in decision-making by a leader and his or her subordinates (Koopman and
Wierdsma, 1998). According to White and Lippitt (1960) democratic leaders emphasize on group
participation, discussion, and group decisions.
Democratic leadership involves working with a group to assure that they make decisions sensibly
and fairly. The main reason for leader's intervention is to make sure that everybody has a say and
that decisions do get made.
Areas of Strength
My leadership style combines effective communication, enthusiasm, logical thinking, as well as
creating a balanced and detail-oriented approach. This enables me to be thoughtful and decisive. I
handle distractions adeptly and maintain trust and loyalty while staying focused on completing tasks
and providing excellent service. My leadership style is marked by a harmonious blend of warmth and
objectivity.
Areas of Weaknesses
In routine situations, I seek control but may become irritable when routines are disrupted. I value
straightforward instructions, group support, and appreciation. However, I often dwell on negative
possibilities, fret about making mistakes, and rely too heavily on research and committees for
decision-making. I thrive in well-organized environments but seek more variety in my daily routine
and appreciate opportunities for independent work roles.
With reference to the Integrated Model of Leadership Behaviour, as a participative leader, I share a
clear balance between task-oriented and relationship-oriented leadership approach. Recognising the
need for maintaining the facts in sight, I place a significant emphasis on keeping a clear focus and not
allowing myself to become overly engrossed in the emotional concerns of others. Yet,
simultaneously, I possess a genuine understanding and a deep sense of compassion for the
emotional experiences of those around me. My usual approach involves maintaining a balanced
stance, where I aim to be impartial yet kind, empathetic without being pragmatic. This means that I
strive to strike a harmonious balance between supporting and acknowledging the emotional aspects
of people's experiences while also keeping a firm footing in the realm of objective and rational
thinking.
Improvements to indulge in:
To become dedicated in recognising and meeting the needs of others.
To permit people to express their opinions without being argumentative.
To acknowledge that others are merely reporting the facts as they are.
When conducting a significant project, I must keep the initial plan under regular review and
be mindful of opportunities to communicate with my work group, even if those
opportunities are fleeting.
There are many advantages in using democratic leadership. Since this leadership style allows
everyone to get a say in making the decision, the final decision has support from the majority of
employees. Because the leader is transferring the power to the followers, this leadership style can
increase the level of trust, motivation, innovation and job satisfaction in the organization.
What according to you are the potential drawbacks of participative leadership, are there situations
where it may not be the most effective leadership style?
References
Birkman Signature Report. (2023). Priyanjali Das (Report No. G6JPTT). Birkman International, Inc.
Nemaei, B. (2012). The Impact of participative leadership on employee's motivation, job satisfaction
and innovation (Doctoral dissertation, The British University in Dubai (BUiD)).
Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and Practice - International Student Edition (9th ed.).
SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). [Link]