a. The Autocratic Style The Authoritarian Style
Daft 2005:54 defines the autocratic style as a leadership in which a leader tends to centralize authority and derive power from position, control of
rewards, and coercion. In addition, the autocratic leader makes all decisions that relate to the group and is the major source of influence in the group activities.
Those explanations are also supported by Zeuschner 1992:203 who states that the dominance of one person and the acceptance of that dominance by others is
the characteristic of authoritarian leadership. In this autocratic style, the group members are dependent on the leader
because of the leader’s control over the group and its resources. In Herbert’s book 1976:379, Lewin also gives some characteristics of the autocratic style. The
leader controls the future giving one-step-at-a-time instruction, information giving only orders, not sharing his knowledge, work making all task and team
assignment, member satisfactions allowing no initiative or judgment to be used and using personal terms in criticism and praise, and relationship each member
is dependent on the leader for instructions and training, must get the leaders’ decision each time anything new comes up. This style of leadership provides
clear expectation for what needs to be done, when it should be done, and also how it should be done.
b. The Democratic Style
Democratic is a leadership style in which a leader delegates authority to others, encourages participation, relies on subordinates’ knowledge for
completion of tasks, and depends on subordinate respect for influence Daft,
2005:54. In contrast, the democratic style is very different from the autocratic style. In this style, the leader shares his influence with the group. The decisions
are made by the leader only after full discussion and participation by members. Here, the leader gains additional information from group members, as well as a
greater commitment to the decision than would occur under autocratic conditions Lewin in Herbert’s book, 1976:379.
Lewin finds that this is the most effective leadership among all. Here, a leader has jobs to offer guidance to group members and also to allow the members
in giving input to the group. As a conclusion, the democratic style encourages group members to participate in decision-making process.
c. The Laissez-Faire Style
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