M RahmanAdvantages and disadvantages of laissez faire leadership
The comprehensive article examines the advantages and disadvantages of laissez faire leadership style. It also explores the characteristics of this type of leadership and shows its application in different fields by providing some examples.
Delegation is a critical skill for any leader to master. Effective delegation allows team members to grow and develop their skills while simultaneously increasing the efficiency and productivity of the team as a whole. Laissez faire is a concept that takes delegation a step further.
What is laissez faire leadership?
The term ‘laissez-faire’ is French which literally means ‘let them do’. It broadly implies ‘let it be’, ‘let them do as they will’ or ‘leave it alone’. When applied in leadership context, it refers to leaders leaving it to their subordinates to complete their responsibilities in a manner they choose, without requiring strict policies or procedures (St Thomas University, 2023).
Kurt Lewin developed the idea of laissez-faire leadership over 90 years ago in his study ‘Leadership and Group Life’ which was also contributed by researchers Ronald Lippitt and Ralph K. White. Though Lewin developed the concept, he did not regard it as his preferred method of leadership, rather a style opposite of autocratic leadership.
Characteristics of laissez faire leadership
The common characteristics of laissez faire leadership are as follows:
Leaders trust followers and therefore provide them with very limited guidance.
Employees have the authority to make decisions and therefore are expected to resolve their problems on their own.
When required, leaders take charge and provide followers with constructive criticisms and feedback.
Though a hands-off approach, the leaders are accountable for overall actions and decisions.
Examples of laissez faire leadership
Many analysists argue that laissez faire leadership in true sense has never existed in history. However, others argue that some leaders have displayed almost all the characteristics of this type of leadership.
For instance, Warren Buffet is often considered a laissez faire leader who developed a team of people whom he had considered proficient in their activities and creativity. He only intervened in their decisions when adverse circumstances required him to do so.
Similarly, Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, is considered a laissez faire leader because of his hands-off approach to leading people. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, believes that his team members can come up with innovative ideas and therefore leave them to reach their goals. Consequently, this approach demonstrates that his leadership style contains the characteristics of laissez faire leadership.
However, it should be mentioned that examples of laissez faire leadership are very limited in number that supports the idea that there is a lack of application of this style in practice.
Advantages of laissez faire leadership
Saving time
Laissez faire leaders can save a lot of time which can be dedicated to other activities. They hand over responsibilities to the group. They let followers to set goals, decide on work methods, and set their own pace of work.
According to Lewin and his fellow researchers, laissez faire leadership style requires the least amount of managerial oversight. By delegating responsibilities to their teams, managers will be able to have more free time to plan and contribute to the strategic issues of their organisations.
Minimum employee monitoring
One of the key advantages of laissez faire leadership is the reduced level of employee monitoring. As leaders trust their followers and are confident in their capabilities, they do not need to keep close eyes on them. Consequently, followers feel valued and motivated to complete the tasks they are assigned with. Similarly, creativity is encouraged under this type of leadership.
Low labour turnover
Labour turnover is low as a higher number of employee retention is achieved under laissez faire leadership. If people are trusted and can do their jobs independently, they feel attached to the team, and may not think of leaving the job so easily.
Motivated employees
Some individuals can be highly motivated when entrusted with an increased delegation of responsibilities. The delegation provides them with an opportunity to improve their own skills and develop continuously. This individual development contributes to organisational development as well.
By entrusting team members with tasks and responsibilities, leaders demonstrate faith in their abilities and encourage them to take ownership of their work. This fosters a sense of pride and engagement, leading to increased motivation and productivity.
According to University of Phoenix (2023) if employees are provided with the freedom to work in the way they love to achieve the business goals, it can help them valued, independent, productive, and energised.
Disadvantages of laissez faire leadership
Difficult for new employees
New members often need guidance and detailed direction to understand the team dynamics. Therefore, they may find laissez faire leadership style difficult to work with at the outset of their assignment. This is indeed one of the key disadvantages of laissez faire leadership style.
Confusion
Under this type of leadership, team members are often selected on the basis of their capability to work independently. However, this approach may confuse some people concerning the leadership of the team. Who is in charge? In addition, some people may start exercising their authority over others resulting in conflicts impacting on the team dynamics badly (University of Phoenix, 2023).
Question about historical existence
Lewin considers laissez faire a leadership style, but some people may feel that it is non-leadership. Many leadership scholars generally believe a laissez-faire state has never existed – allowing the group to make all decisions.
Avoiding true leadership!
Some writers opine that laissez faire is a passive style and indeed in worst circumstance, a tool to avoid true leadership. Some analysists also argue that that without the leader’s input, the group can descend into conflict as members race over roles and responsibilities.
Risk of low productivity
Theory X suggests people needs supervision. Therefore, if the leader is not around, some employees may tend to show less care and concern resulting in low productivity. In addition, if the leaders are not charismatic and expert enough, they may be challenged by the followers every now and then.
Summary of Advantages and disadvantages of laissez faire leadership
To sum-up, laissez faire leadership has both advantages and disadvantages. By applying this style, leaders may leave almost everything up to their followers/teams. However, if the team members are not capable, motivated, and reliable, this style of leadership may cause problems.
We hope the article ‘Advantages and disadvantages of laissez faire leadership’ has been helpful. You may also like reading Advantages and disadvantages of democratic leadership. Other relevant articles for you are:
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Last update: 17 May 2023
References:
St Thomas University (2023) What is Laissez-Faire leadership? How autonomy can drive success, available at: https://online.stu.edu/articles/education/what-is-laissezfaire-leadership.aspx (accessed 17 May 2023)
University of Phoenix (2023) What is a laissez-faire leadership style?, available at: https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/what-is-laissez-faire-leadership-style.html (accessed 17 May 2023)
Author: M Rahman
M Rahman writes extensively online and offline with an emphasis on business management, marketing, and tourism. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. Also, graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA in Business & Management Studies and completed a DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching in the Life-Long Learning Sector) from London South Bank University.
