Leadership style: Is it autocratic, democratic or laissez-faire?

Abstract

The work assigned to employee cannot be completed without clear direction. Therefore, leader's responsibility to provide clear direction leads to the completed task and reduces costs to the organization. Leadership style is essential in inspiring employees to work hard and improve their performance. The purpose of this document is to examine the style of Middle Management Leadership especially, Program Leader. The sample in this study consists of 12 program leaders of Polytechnic of Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah (PTSB), Kedah. The study finds that most program leaders prefer to use a democratic approach. The program leader tends to brainstorm, collaborate and tolerate with another lecturer to achieve the organizational goal. The findings also show that the previous relationship as a lecturer before heading the program influences the leadership style, democratic.