Which leadership style is characterized by shared leadership?

The leadership style characterized by shared leadership is the democratic leadership style. In a democratic approach, leaders encourage participation and invite team members to contribute ideas and make decisions collaboratively. This style fosters an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to take part in the decision-making process, promoting teamwork and commitment among group members.

Democratic leaders often facilitate discussions, consider team input, and find ways to incorporate feedback into their plans, which enhances ownership of tasks and creates a sense of accountability among the team. This approach aligns perfectly with the concept of shared leadership, as it breaks down traditional hierarchical barriers and allows for a collective contribution to leadership efforts.

In contrast, autocratic leadership involves decision-making by a single leader with little input from others, while laissez-faire leadership provides minimal guidance and relies on team members to make decisions independently, often resulting in varied levels of participation. Transformational leadership focuses on inspiring and motivating followers to achieve their full potential, typically through a strong vision, but does not necessarily imply shared decision-making to the extent of democratic leadership.