Which leadership style is least involved in directing team decisions?

The leadership style that is least involved in directing team decisions is Laissez-faire. This approach is characterized by a hands-off attitude where leaders provide minimal guidance and allow team members to make decisions independently. In a Laissez-faire environment, employees are given the freedom to manage their own tasks and contribute to the decision-making process without direct oversight from the leader. This style can empower team members, promote creativity, and encourage individual responsibility, as they are trusted to work autonomously.

In contrast, the other leadership styles involve more direct engagement and decision-making from the leader. For instance, autocratic leadership focuses on the leader making decisions unilaterally, while paternalistic leadership involves a leader who makes decisions with the well-being of team members in mind, but still retains significant control. Democratic leadership encourages team involvement in the decision-making process, but the leader still plays an active role in guiding discussions and facilitating consensus. Thus, Laissez-faire stands out as the style that grants the most independence to team members in their decision-making processes.