Directive Leadership

Directive leadership is a type of leadership style in which

the leader is responsible for making decisions, assigning
tasks, and setting goals. It is a style that works best in
situations where a clear direction is needed.
R by D Gayathri
When to Use Directive
Leadership
In
Construction
Directive leadership works well in
the construction industry, where
safety protocols need to be
followed and timelines are critical.
In Education
Teachers use directive leadership
to manage classroom behavior
and provide clear guidance for
students.
In Healthcare
In healthcare, directive leadership
ensures tasks are completed
quickly and efficiently in
emergency situations.
In Business
Many managers use this style to
ensure that employees follow
established procedures and
protocols within the company.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons

The directive leadership style provides a clear It can lead to a lack of creativity, make team
direction for the team, can increase efficiency, members feel unsupported, and stifle
and is effective in situations with tight innovation.
deadlines.
Directive vs. Servant Leadership
Servant
Leadership
The leader focuses on the needs of the team and encourages
their personal and professional development. This leadership
style tends to encourage long-term growth and creativity.

1 2

Directive
Leadership
The leader sets the goals and assigns tasks. The focus is on the
short-term completion of tasks, and the team is expected to
conform to established procedures.
Implementing Directive Leadership

Communicate the Provide Clear Provide Listen to

Plan
Communicate the vision, goals,
and expectations clearly to your
team members.
Guidelines
Provide a clear roadmap of tasks
to be accomplished and ensure
that your team understands the
expectations and procedures.
Feedback
Provide frequent feedback to your
team members, praise them for
their accomplishments, and
address any issues that arise.
Feedback
Listen to feedback from your team
members, and be willing to adjust
your leadership style as
necessary.
When to Avoid Directive
Leadership
1 When Team 2 When You're Working
Creativity is with Experts
Necessary
If the situation If the team members
requires your team to are experts in their
be creative and field, a directive
resourceful in their approach may not be
problem-solving, necessary, and
directive leadership instead, a more
may not be the best collaborative
approach. approach may be
3 When a New Direction is Needed
more appropriate.
If the current approach is not working, a directive
approach may not be effective, and a different
leadership style may be necessary.
Conclusion
While directive leadership can be an effective approach in
many situations, it is not always the best choice. A
successful leader must be able to recognize when to use
this style and when to adapt their approach to fit the needs
of the situation and the team.
References
Title Author Publication

Leadership Styles: What Are Eileen Hoenigman Meyer Business News Daily
They and Which One Do You
Use?
The Effects of Directive and Tanuj Nandan, Wei-Min Hsu, International Journal of
Supportive Leadership and Li-Ping Tang Business and Management
Behaviors on Employee
Performance
The Pros and Cons of Elbert Madaris Forbes
Leadership Styles