Which of the following describes a feature of democratic leadership?

• A. Promotes centralized decision-making with little involvement from staff
• B. Delegates decisions to subordinates without oversight
• C. Encourages employee participation in decision-making
• D. Uses a fly-in policy for decisions

Answer: (C)

Democratic leadership centers on inviting input from team members and sharing decision-making authority. When leaders seek ideas, discuss options with staff, and involve people in the final choices, they’re practicing participative leadership that can boost motivation, commitment, and the quality of decisions.

The option that describes encouraging employee participation in decision-making fits this approach exactly—people contribute, discuss, and have a say in outcomes.

The other descriptions don’t fit democratic leadership. Centralized decision-making with little staff involvement reflects an autocratic style, where the leader makes decisions alone. Delegating decisions to subordinates without oversight aligns more with a laissez-faire approach, which can reduce direction and accountability. The idea of a fly-in policy for decisions isn’t a standard method tied to democratic leadership and doesn’t emphasize ongoing staff involvement.