Free-rein leadership, also called Laissez-Faire, is a type of leadership style in which leaders are hands-off and allow group members to make the decisions. Mangers set objectives and employees are free to do whatever is appropriate to accomplish those objectives. The traits managers need in such an organization include warmth, friendliness, and understanding. Free-rein is often the most successful style concerning the organization in which managers supervise doctors, engineers, professors, and other professionals.
Figure: Leadership Styles [1]
Some of the primary characteristics of Free-rein leadership include: [2]
- Very little guidance from leaders
- Complete freedom for followers to make decisions
- Leaders provide the tools and resources needed
- Group members are expected to solve problems on their own
The downside of Free-rein leadership includes: [2]
- Not ideal in situations where group members lack the knowledge or experience they need to complete tasks and make decisions.
- Some people are not good at setting their own deadlines, managing their own projects, and solving problems on their own.
- Lack of feedback
- Miscommunication among managers and group members
Other types of leadership styles:
AcqLinks and References:
- [1] Nickels and McHugh, “Understanding Business” McGraw-Hill Irwin 2010
- [2] Website: About.com – Laissez-Faire
- Team Development Stages
Updated: 6/29/2021
Rank: 1.3
