Democratic Leadership Style

Democratic Leadership Style in an organization, group or team involves the redistribution of power and authority between employees and managers to provide employee involvement in decision-making.

Involves a team guided by a leader where all individuals are involved in the decision-making process to determine what needs to be done and how it should be done. The group's leader has the authority to make the final decision of the group.

The democratic leadership style means facilitating the conversation, encouraging people to share their ideas, and then synthesizing all the available information into the best possible decision. The democratic leader must also be able to communicate that decision back to the group to bring unity the plan is chosen.

In democratic leadership style leaders distribute responsibility among his group to facilitate participation in decision-making. He empowers his members so that the members can accomplish their responsibilities. Empowerment includes providing training and education necessary for delegated task completion.

He also ensures a democratic deliberation in making group decisions. This means that the leader should act as a facilitator and mediator between group members and ensure that a psychologically healthy and respectful environment is maintained.

Democratic leadership style can bring the best out of an experienced and professional team. It capitalizes on their skills and talents by letting them share their views, rather than simply expecting them to conform.

Principles of Democratic Leadership Style

Democratic Leadership Style involves the entire team. This is a leadership style in which the leader works closely with team members, focusing on building relationships and rapport. Here are the principles;

• Every member must know what the organization stand for and represent

If a leader wants to adopt participative leadership, he must ensure his followers clearly knows and understand the purpose of the organization, i.e. why they do what they do and why they should go towards the vision of the company.

Not only does that help to make sense of what they are being asked to do, but it also helps them to stay on target. It helps them to make adjustments, improvise and innovate as they encounter obstacles.

• Every member must have a clear vision

A leader should ensure his group members are aware on how each are supposed to bring contribution to the organization. In other to do this the leader has to have clarity of vision, i.e. what you want them to know and what you want them to do. A leader must not only cast vision on the future but must connect the past, present and future.

• Develop each team member as a leader.

Getting the job done makes you a success. Getting the job done makes you a leader, but developing the people while helping those gets the job done at the highest level makes you an exceptional leader. When you develop others, they become better, they do the job better and both you and the organization benefits.

• The members must share the same passion

Passion is the catalyst for organization leadership; passion is the root of self-motivation and energy that fuels persistence, consistency, resilience and action. Passion is the source of leadership drive. When members share the same passion, nothing can stop them from surmounting any obstacles.

• Good relationship among members

The members of the organization values positive relationship, they connect with one another in other to help one another. To connect with people, you must travel at their speed, express your care for them, and create a healthy balance of personal and professional interest.

• The Team members care for one another

All great teams begin with this quality. Teams that don't bond can't build, because they never become a cohesive unit. For a team to be successful, the teammates have to know they will look out for one another.

• The team members know what is important

One of the most important qualities of a team is having a common goal and purpose. This quality is developed by making sure each team member knows what is important to the team.

• The team members communicate with one another

Without communication among team members, the members of the team are likely to work against each other and the important tasks can be left undone. Letting each other know what's going on is the key to effective teamwork. 

• The team members grow together

Once the members of the team care for one another, have a common goal and communicate with one another, they are ready to start growing. Growth within a team is much like growth within a marriage. There must be shared experiences and periods of communication.

• There is a team fit

When a team appreciates each other’s strength and weakness, the team becomes fit. The fitness of a team requires an attitude of partnership. They respect and trust each other. This trust allows them to rely on each other and make up for their weakness.

• The team members are willing to pay the price

Success comes down to sacrifice, willingness to pay the price. The same is true of a winning team. Each member of the team must be willing to sacrifice time and energy to practice and prepare. Each person must be willing to be accountable, be willing to give up part of you for the team's success.

• Coordinate resources

Leaders build effective managerial teams and organize people of diverse gifts, talent and abilities to maximize their contribution to the whole team. Leaders know the strength and weakness of others and use wisdom when assigning them to particular teams.

Conclusion

Democratic Leadership Style depends on a leader’s ability to develop those closest to him. The key to surrounding yourself with other leaders is to find the best people you can, then develop them into the best leaders they can be. Great leaders produce others leaders.