For these leaders to be most effective, they must switch leadership styles as the situation demands. Several theories of leadership style were proposed during the 1970s to help leaders match style to situation. One way of differentiating among leadership styles is to put them on a continuum ranging from autocratic to laissez-faire. At one extreme is the autocrat who makes all decisions, then tells subordinates how to implement them. The autocrat may or may not consider what the subordinates feel about the decision.
Subordinates have no opportunity to participate in decision making.
On the other extreme is the laissez-faire leader who plays no leadership role at all. This leader gives the group all decision making responsibility and has no more authority than any other group member. Democratic leadership falls toward the right end of the continuum. Democratic leaders involve members in decision making either by reaching consensus or by using parliamentary procedure. They pursue open, trusting, follower-oriented relationships.