What is a key characteristic of laissez-faire leadership?

In laissez-faire leadership, a fundamental characteristic is the encouragement of followers to make their own decisions. This leadership style is defined by a hands-off approach, where leaders provide minimal supervision and allow team members to take the initiative in their work. By fostering an environment of autonomy, followers are empowered to explore their ideas and solutions, enhancing creativity and innovation within the team. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and personal accountability, as individuals feel a sense of ownership over their work.

In this context, the other options highlight contrasting leadership approaches. Making decisions independently suggests a more autocratic style where the leader retains full control, which is not aligned with laissez-faire principles. A step-by-step approach to success indicates a structured method characteristic of directive leading, which is also opposite to the laissez-faire mindset. Finally, strictly following established procedures implies a bureaucracy that limits flexibility, which is again contrary to the emphasis on individual decision-making in a laissez-faire setting. Thus, the key characteristic of encouraging follower autonomy distinctly defines laissez-faire leadership.