The Tannenbaum and Schmidt Leadership Pattern is a continuum of leadership styles that range from autocratic to democratic. Autocratic leaders make decisions on their own, while democratic leaders involve their team members in the decision-making process. Tannenbaum and Schmidt identified seven different leadership styles:
- Tell: The leader makes the decision and announces it to the group.
- Sell: The leader makes the decision but tries to persuade the group to accept it.
- Consult: The leader consults with the group before making a decision.
- Join: The leader makes the decision with the input of the group.
- Delegate: The leader gives the group the authority to make the decision.
The best leadership style depends on the situation. Autocratic leadership is most effective when quick decisions need to be made or when the leader has more expertise than the team members. Democratic leadership is most effective when the team members are highly motivated and have a lot of experience.
