This free-rein form of leadership, if it is to be successful, requires extensive
communication by management with employees. It is the styleof leadership that makes employees responsible for most of the decisions
that are made, and in which they are minimally supervised. Employees
are responsible for motivating and managing themselves on a
daily basis under this leadership style.
Laissez-faire leadership may best be used when employees are educated,
knowledgeable, and self-motivated. Employees must have the
drive and ambition to achieve goals on their own for this style to be
most effective. Laissez-faire leadership is not a good idea in situations
where employees feel insecure about the manager’s lack of availability
or the manager is using the employees to cover for his or her inability
to carry out his or her own work. This type of situation can create resentment
and result in an unhealthy work environment.
As with many categories that describe business concepts, an organization
and its leadership may apply any or all of these leadership
styles. For instance, the managing partners of an architectural firm
may utilize autocratic leadership style with the lower levels in its
clerical and administrative functions but employ a democratic or
laissez-faire leadership style with its professional staff of architectassociates
and partners.