Which of the following leadership styles leaves workers to make their own decisions?

The laissez-faire leadership style is characterized by minimal direct supervision and a high degree of autonomy for team members. In this approach, leaders provide little guidance and allow employees to make their own decisions regarding how they fulfill their roles and tasks. This style can be effective in environments where individuals are highly skilled, motivated, and capable of managing their own work without constant oversight.

In a laissez-faire environment, leaders trust their team to take responsibility for their output, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment. This can lead to high job satisfaction and creativity, as individuals feel free to explore their own methods and ideas. However, it requires a careful balance, as too little direction can lead to confusion or a lack of cohesion if the team is not self-motivated or lacks clear objectives.

The other styles such as paternalistic, autocratic, and democratic each involve varying levels of control and decision-making authority retained by the leader or shared among team members, but none allow for the same level of independence that is fundamental to the laissez-faire approach.