What is Participative Leadership?

Participative leadership is a style of management that focuses on actively involving employees in decision-making processes. This can include freely contributing ideas, sharing their perspectives, and providing input on key decisions that affect the team and overall organization.

Unlike traditional, more hierarchical leadership styles, which often take a top-down approach to management, participative leadership promotes a democratic, collaborative work environment. Although participative leaders consider team members’ input, they ultimately make the final decision.

The participative leadership theory can be traced back to the 1930s and has evolved over time.