The leadership style in which each member acts according to his/her choice with leader having very little rol… - DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Nursing Management & leadership

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Laissez-faire leadership, also known as 'free-rein' or permissive leadership, is a hands-off style where leaders delegate most authority to their team members.
In this style, the leader has a very minimal role, and group members are given the freedom to act according to their own choices, set their own goals, and solve problems independently.
This approach promotes autonomy and is effective with highly skilled, motivated, and self-directed teams who do not require close supervision.

Option A: Formal leadership refers to the authority granted by an official position within an organization's hierarchy, not a specific behavioral style of leading.
Option B: Autocratic leadership is the opposite of the style described; the leader makes all decisions with little to no input from the group, maintaining high control.
Option C: Democratic leadership involves shared decision-making. The leader actively facilitates group discussion and considers input, which contradicts the 'very little role' described in the question.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Leadership Styles in Management as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse manager might use a laissez-faire approach with a team of experienced senior nurses who are developing a new peer-review process, trusting their expertise.
This style is highly inappropriate in high-acuity settings like an ICU or during a crisis, where clear direction and supervision are critical for patient safety.
What if? If the team consisted of newly graduated nurses, a laissez-faire approach would be unsafe and could lead to confusion and errors. In that scenario, a more directive (autocratic) or supportive (democratic) style would be necessary to ensure proper guidance and adherence to patient care standards.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concepts in the question stem: members have maximum freedom ('acts according to his/her choice') and the leader has minimal involvement ('very little role to play').
Second, evaluate each leadership style against these two concepts.
Eliminate 'Autocratic' as it involves maximum leader control and minimum member freedom.
Eliminate 'Democratic' as it involves shared control and an active leader role as a facilitator.
Recognize that 'Laissez-faire' (French for 'let them do') directly describes the hands-off, high-autonomy style in the question.
Identify 'Formal' as a type of authority source, not a behavioral style, making it an incorrect fit for the question's context.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing_Management_and_leadership_Johny_Kutty_JosephCbs_Publishers (pp 16-364 of 374) p. 157-159

E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart B (pp 328-654 of 982) p. 165-167