Which leadership style aligns with empowering staff by giving them ownership of tasks?

• A. Autocratic
• B. Participative
• C. Laissez-faire
• D. Transactional

Answer: (B)

Empowering staff by giving them ownership of tasks is best described by participative leadership, which involves involving team members in decision-making and giving them real responsibility for how work gets done. In this style, leaders seek input, delegate meaningful tasks, and trust employees to take ownership while providing guidance and support. This approach builds motivation, accountability, and capability as staff see their ideas translated into action and outcomes.

Autocratic leadership centralizes all decisions with the leader and offers little input from staff, so ownership of tasks isn’t really shared. Laissez-faire is a very hands-off approach that can lack direction and clear accountability, which can undermine ownership. Transactional leadership focuses on exchanges—rewards or penalties based on performance—rather than fostering empowerment or shared authority.