Participative Leadership: What Is It and Does It Work? 

While several different leadership styles have been reviewed, utilized, and put into practice over the years, one is starting to emerge in society everywhere as a way to help boost morale and improve productivity. The participative leadership style takes a different approach to working in a team setting, and there are some benefits that you should consider if you are considering adjusting your leadership practices. 

The Style of Participative Leadership 

Unlike some more common leadership styles, participative leadership takes a democratic style. It is used in team settings, and as the leader, input, thoughts, and information is collected equally from each team member. Also, participative leaders are active and involved in projects, not to the point of micromanaging, but pulling their weight and being a resource that the team can depend on throughout the day. Whether you are meeting with your team in person or through the online community, this leadership style be utilized effectively.  

What are the Characteristics of Participative Leadership? 

To identify participative leadership, you must know the characteristics of this behavior and what to expect of these leaders. 

• Communication 
• Encouragement 
• Receptiveness and Listening 
• Curiosity 
• Progressive and Open-Minded 

Communication 

This is probably the most important characteristic of a participative leader: the ability to communicate and discuss with other team members. Knowing what is going on and being involved with each person is essential. As a participative leader, you must be just as available to communicate as you expect your employees to be when reaching out.  

Encouragement 

In every industry, employees may feel like they are not performing to the best of their abilities, and a kind word from their leader can be a difference in their productivity. Participative leaders remain positive and  

If you are in a leadership position and want to pursue this leadership style, these characteristics should be a part of your skills for success.  

Receptiveness and Listening 

To fully participate in any activity, a person must be able to listen and be receptive to others speaking with opinions and thoughts. This is true for participative leaders who want to be engaged with their employees. Sometimes the best way you can help your team is by listening and receiving the information they are giving back, even if it is critical and hard to hear.  

Curiosity 

The best leaders who participate are genuinely curious about the tasks and want to be involved in what is happening. As a leader, you should oversee different aspects of the day, but wanting to be involved and having a true interest in what is going on will encourage your participation with your team.  

Progressiveness and Open-Minded 

Participative leadership is a new style that has developed over the last century due to toxic workplaces and leaders looking for real ways to make their environments better for their employees. Being able to adjust to a new thought process and invoke change when needed is essential to being participative and supportive of your staff.  

Benefits of Participative Leadership 

You can expect several benefits in your workplace when you choose to be participative in your leadership ability.  

Encourages Core Values

As a leader, if you are more involved and participate with your team, you will see more core values vital to the company being utilized and made a priority.  

Boosts Innovation and Solutions

When your team sees you as an active member, working to meet deadlines and seeking solutions, they are encouraged to be more innovative in their tasks. With so many team members actively trying to find a solution, innovation in these solutions will thrive independently, and new business practices will be encouraged.  

Improves Productivity and Positivity

Participative leaders encourage higher productivity volumes because they also do the work they expect their employees to do. These employees will want to match or surpass the leadership in production because they are confident and feel appreciated for their work. This creates a positive environment for your employees, knowing they have leadership that understands their workload and encourages higher productivity levels from these employees.  

Builds Skills Within Employees

Because your employees are more willing to work for a participative leader and improve productivity, you will start to see new skills develop within your employees. When the time comes to promote these employees,  you will have a solid understanding of their skill sets and know who is capable of these positions.  

Why is Participative Leadership Important? 

As the workplace culture continues to change and employees start demanding more of a voice, the need for participative leadership will grow and become acceptable. Participative leadership is a response to employees who may not have always felt validated and need that leadership to let them know they are doing a great job and have a supporting leader who can work alongside them and have an appreciation for their daily tasks.  

Participate leadership is also essential to maintaining employee retention. With the push over the last few years to “quiet quit” from so many employees and the great resignation, there is no time like now to hire and retain quality talent. The business culture has started to see the worth of good employees, and a participative leadership style encourages these employees to remain with these supporting leaders. 

Different Types of Participative Leaders 

Not all participative leaders are the same, and there are three particular types: 

Consultative 

The consultative leaders will meet with all team members and discuss potential outcomes before deciding.  

Democratic 

The democratic leader will utilize voting as an option and make decisions based on those votes.

Consensus 

The consensus leader will encourage input from the group and agree on decisions that affect the team collectively.  

Closing Thoughts 

With the need to shift the culture and atmosphere of workplaces in all industries, participative leadership is becoming a more attractive leadership style to companies and organizations. This interaction with employees consistently and having their input included in some fashion for decision-making is more open-minded than other leadership styles but may be the right move for your current workspace. If you wish to learn strategic management and participative leadership, earning a business administration degree from a reputed, accredited American university like University of the People can be very helpful. Check out all of our business administration programs here.