Laissez-faire leadership style

• Is also known as the free-reign style
• It comes from a French phrase which means to let go
• The free reign leader sets goals for subordinates and
• sets the parameters within which they should work
• Once the goals/objectives have been established the reins of control are dropped
• The subordinates are left to achieve their objectives
• The leader grants authority and responsibility to the group
• Group members are told to work things out themselves and do the best they can
• Communication is mainly horizontal among group members
• Leaders provide guidance

Advantages 

• Fosters creativity
• Empowers group members and allows them to pursue their dreams
• Allows for innovation and gives experts an opportunity to tackle complex problems
• Is suitable where the workers are self-starters
• Is suitable for artistic pursuit such as painting where it would not be possible to narrowly define duties
• Motivates workers

Disadvantages

• The group can drift aimlessly
• Makes coordination and planning difficult
• Is not suitable when workers are lazy and not self-starters
• Loss of control by management
• Depends on the competence of the workers involved and is therefore risky
• Some goals may be neglected as workers pursue their interests only

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