Democratic leaders, also known as participative leaders, accept input from one or more group members when making decisions and solving problems, but the leader retains the final say when choices are made. Group members tend to be encouraged and motivated by this style of leadership.
This style of leadership often leads to more effective and accurate decisions, since no leader can be an expert in all areas. Input from group members with specialized knowledge and expertise creates a more complete basis for decision-making.
Remember, good leaders utilize all three styles depending upon the situation. For example:
Use an authoritarian style if a group member lacks knowledge about a certain procedure.
Use a democratic style with group members who understand the objectives and their role in the task.
Use a delegative style if the group member knows more than you do about the task.