The laissez-faire leadership style, also referred to as delegative leadership, is a type of leadership where leaders allow team members to direct their own decision-making. Loosely translated from its French-language origins, “laissez-faire” means "leave it alone" or "let it be." The laissez-faire style is the opposite of [authoritarian leadership](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/autocratic-leadership-traits) or autocratic leadership, in which one leader has the power to make decisions without the input of other team members. Laissez-faire leaders place trust in team members to facilitate their own group performance without micromanagement. Leaders employing this hands-off approach still make themselves available to check in and provide [constructive criticism](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-give-good-feedback-at-work).

Overall, the laissez-faire leadership style can be summarized in several characteristics:

1. __Delegation of tasks:__ Leaders provide training and support and are able to delegate jobs to the most qualified team members.
2. __Hands-off approach__: Laissez-faire management is mainly hands-off, meaning team members have the autonomy to develop their own decision-making processes and facilitate their own self-leadership qualities. Laissez-faire leaders have a high degree of trust in their direct reports, allowing them to complete tasks with minimal managerial interference.
3. __Provision of resources__: Leaders employing the laissez-faire management style can maximize its efficiency and success by providing teams with tools and other resources to attain their objectives and maintain a good work environment. Good laissez-faire leaders trust their teams, and they invest in their personal and professional development.
The laissez-faire type of leadership can result in a high level of self-sufficiency in team members, boosting job satisfaction as well as retention. Employees often find the sense of independence empowering and are able to develop their [problem-solving skills](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-problem-solving-skills) by finding creative solutions to the tasks they are closest to; this freedom to act without deferring to a manager at every turn can result in faster decision-making. 

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Learn about the characteristics and benefits of laissez-faire leadership, a leadership style that relies heavily on delegation.

Learn about the characteristics and benefits of laissez-faire leadership, a leadership style that relies heavily on delegation.

Laissez-Faire Leadership: How Laissez-Faire Leadership Works

The laissez-faire leadership style, also referred to as delegative leadership, is a type of leadership where leaders allow team members to direct their own decision-making. Loosely translated from its French-language origins, “laissez-faire” means &quot;leave it alone&quot; or &quot;let it be.&quot; The laissez-faire style is the opposite of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/autocratic-leadership-traits' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/autocratic-leadership-traits","linkCopy":"authoritarian leadership","category":null}'>authoritarian leadership</a> or autocratic leadership, in which one leader has the power to make decisions without the input of other team members. Laissez-faire leaders place trust in team members to facilitate their own group performance without micromanagement. Leaders employing this hands-off approach still make themselves available to check in and provide <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-give-good-feedback-at-work' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-give-good-feedback-at-work","linkCopy":"constructive criticism","category":null}'>constructive criticism</a>.

What Is Laissez-Faire Leadership? 

Overall, the laissez-faire leadership style can be summarized in several characteristics:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Delegation of tasks: Leaders provide training and support and are able to delegate jobs to the most qualified team members. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Hands-off approach: Laissez-faire management is mainly hands-off, meaning team members have the autonomy to develop their own decision-making processes and facilitate their own self-leadership qualities. Laissez-faire leaders have a high degree of trust in their direct reports, allowing them to complete tasks with minimal managerial interference. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Provision of resources: Leaders employing the laissez-faire management style can maximize its efficiency and success by providing teams with tools and other resources to attain their objectives and maintain a good work environment. Good laissez-faire leaders trust their teams, and they invest in their personal and professional development. </li></ol>

3 Characteristics of Laissez-Faire Leadership

The laissez-faire type of leadership can result in a high level of self-sufficiency in team members, boosting job satisfaction as well as retention. Employees often find the sense of independence empowering and are able to develop their <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-problem-solving-skills' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-problem-solving-skills","linkCopy":"problem-solving skills","category":null}'>problem-solving skills</a> by finding creative solutions to the tasks they are closest to; this freedom to act without deferring to a manager at every turn can result in faster decision-making.

Advantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership

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Learn about the characteristics and benefits of laissez-faire leadership, a leadership style that relies heavily on delegation.

Learn about the characteristics and benefits of laissez-faire leadership, a leadership style that relies heavily on delegation.
