laissez-faire leader

For most people, when they think of a TV boss, Micheal Scott usually comes up. His cringe-worthy antics and big-but-clueless heart is a reason why The Office was the success it was. It’s also because they see their own bosses (past and present) in some way reflected in his behaviour and way of thinking.

Laissez-Faire translates to "let it be" or "leave alone", which is essentially the essence of this style of leadership. As a Laissez-Faire leader, you delegate the majority of the work and let the team make most of the decisions. It’s a hands-off approach that puts the team in the drivers’s seat. The role of the leader in this system is primarily to set policies and objectives. The actual "nitty-gritty" is handled mostly by the team, with minimal intervention from above.

What’s key in this style is having a very capable and outgoing type of team, people who are knowledgable about their jobs and who work well with little supervision. This kind of leadership relies heavily on mentoring, providing resources, and also being okay with mistakes being made along the way.

Employees are trusted to get work done in a manner that makes sense for them. Workers are given the ultimate freedom of choice in how they tackle workplace projects and duties. The leader is there to guide as needed and to make the final call when it comes to bigger decisions.

As a Laissez-Faire leaders, you are great at putting teams together, you’re resourceful and creative, you’re inspirational, you use what you have in the best ways, and you show compassion while keeping an eye on the company goals.

John Hammond, the “spared no expense” owner of Jurassic Park, is also an example of this type of leadership. Let the teams do their thing, and he just floats in and out as needed.

What is a Laissez-faire Leader?

Pros

  • Encourages creativity and innovation

  • Taps into the team’s expertise and knowledge

  • Fosters personal growth and facilitates development

  • Quicker decision making, as there is no micromanagement

  • Frees up the leader to tackle other pertinent matters

  • Gives the staff autonomy and a freeing-type atmosphere

  • Boosts team morale and energy

  • Allows motivated team members to feel more connected to their work and the company goals

Cons

  • Lack of role clarity - frustration sets in when the leader is unclear

  • Not everyone can handle all the responsibility - can lead to stalling and slacking off

  • Indifference - if staff feel that the leader is not invested or involved, they may feel the same

  • Lack of accountability, as the leader is counting on the team to be self-sufficient

  • Increased conflict - without a guiding voice, there may be conflict between team members

  • Can reduce productivity

  • Can weaken the leaders position - as in “why do we need them?”

elevating your leadership

This style of leadership has its time and place, but if this is something that you are attracted to, then it’s important to be on top of things.

Here are a few ways you can elevate your Laissez-Faire leadership style to make it more powerful:

  • Set up regular check-in sessions with your team members - giving and getting feedback from your staff can ensure you’re all on the same page

  • Create incentives to keep the team on track and increase motivation

  • Ensure that everyone is crystal clear on their roles - revisit this as often as needed to clear up any confusion on their end

  • Make sure the team has the resources and expertise they need to carry out their tasks and duties

  • Ensure clear communication and monitor performance - regular team meetings where you can check in on progress and any issues arising

  • Find ways to congratulate and celebrate your team - it’s hard to stay motivated when you don’t know if you’re succeeding or not

  • Be careful to hire the right people - this type of leadership requires a certain type of person, so make sure that you’re bringing in the right type of people who can thrive in this kind of environment

This style can bring out the best in people, but can also bring out the worst (apathy, laziness, etc.) if not carefully administered. This is a style that involves a “trust, but verify” mindset from you as the leader.

In the end, you will only go as far as your own mindset and ability to show up powerfully in your role!

And of course, if you need support, guidance, mentorship, or just a space to brainstorm to help build your leadership acumen, you can find out how to work with me by smashing the button below. I offer many ways to help you create the leadership you desire to make the impact you know you can make in your life.

Or, you can join THE SPARK: IGNITING NEXT LEVEL LEADERSHIP - a community of all levels of leadership - where you will get tools, peer support and techniques that you can use to shift your thinking and abilities so that you can help grow yourself, your team(s) and your business. It’s for folks like you - fired up, future-forward, and ferocious in your desire to be a stronger and more powerful leader. Click below to join for FREE!