Leadership Style Survey
This questionnaire contains statements about leadership style beliefs. Next to each statement, circle the number that represents how strongly you feel about the statement by using the following scoring system:
- Almost Always True — 5
- Frequently True — 4
- Occasionally True — 3
- Seldom True — 2
- Almost Never True — 1
Be honest about your choices as there are no right or wrong answers — it is only for your own self-assessment.
Leadership Style Survey
| 1. |
I always retain the final decision making authority within my department or team. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2. |
I always try to include one or more employees in determining what to do and how to do it. However, I maintain the final decision making authority. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 3. |
My employees and I always vote whenever a major decision has to be made. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 4. |
I do not consider suggestions made by my employees, as I do not have the time for them. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 5. |
I ask for employee ideas and input on upcoming plans and projects. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 6. |
For a major decision to pass in my department, it must have the approval of each individual or the majority. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 7. |
I tell my employees what has to be done and how to do it. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 8. |
When things go wrong and I need to create a strategy to keep a project or process running on schedule, I call a meeting to get my employee's advice. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 9. |
To get information out, I send it by email, memos, or voice mail; very rarely is a meeting called. My employees are then expected to act upon the information. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 10. |
When someone makes a mistake, I tell them not to ever do that again and make a note of it. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 11. |
I want to create an environment where the employees take ownership of the project. I allow them to participate in the decision making process. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 12. |
I allow my employees to determine what needs to be done and how to do it. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 13. |
New hires are not allowed to make any decisions unless it is approved by me first. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 14. |
I ask employees for their vision of where they see their jobs going and then use their vision where appropriate. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 15. |
My workers know more about their jobs than me, so I allow them to carry out the decisions to do their job. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 16. |
When something goes wrong, I tell my employees that a procedure is not working correctly and I establish a new one. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 17. |
I allow my employees to set priorities with my guidance. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 18. |
I delegate tasks in order to implement a new procedure or process. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 19. |
I closely monitor my employees to ensure they are performing correctly. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 20. |
When there are differences in role expectations, I work with them to resolve the differences. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 21. |
Each individual is responsible for defining his or her job. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 22. |
I like the power that my leadership position holds over subordinates. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 23. |
I like to use my leadership power to help subordinates grow. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 24. |
I like to share my leadership power with my subordinates. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 25. |
Employees must be directed or threatened with punishment in order to get them to achieve the organizational objectives. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 26. |
Employees will exercise self-direction if they are committed to the objectives. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 27. |
Employees have the right to determine their own organizational objectives. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 28. |
Employees seek mainly security. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 29. |
Employees know how to use creativity and ingenuity to solve organizational problems. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 30. |
My employees can lead themselves just as well as I can. |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
In the table below, enter the score of each item on the above questionnaire. For example, if you scored item one with a 3 (Occasionally), then enter a 3 next to Item One. When you have entered all the scores for each question, total each of the three columns.
| Item | Score | Item | Score | Item | Score |
| 1 | ______ | 2 | ______ | 3 | ______ |
| 4 | ______ | 5 | ______ | 6 | ______ |
| 7 | ______ | 8 | ______ | 9 | ______ |
| 10 | ______ | 11 | ______ | 12 | ______ |
| 13 | ______ | 14 | ______ | 15 | ______ |
| 16 | ______ | 17 | ______ | 18 | ______ |
| 19 | ______ | 20 | ______ | 21 | ______ |
| 22 | ______ | 23 | ______ | 24 | ______ |
| 25 | ______ | 26 | ______ | 27 | ______ |
| 28 | ______ | 29 | ______ | 30 | ______ |
Total |
_____ |
Total |
_____ |
Total |
_____ |
| Author-itarian Style |
Partici-pative Style |
Delegat-ive Style |
|||
| autocratic | democratic | free reign |
This questionnaire is to help you assess what leadership style you normally operate out of. The lowest score possible for any stage is 10 (Almost never) while the highest score possible for any stage is 50 (Almost always).
The highest of the three scores in the columns above indicate what style of leadership you normally use — Authoritarian, Participative, or Delegative. If your highest score is 40 or more, it is a strong indicator of your normal style.
The lowest of the three scores is an indicator of the style you least use. If your lowest score is 20 or less, it is a strong indicator that you normally do not operate out of this mode.
If two of the scores are close to the same, you might be going through a transition phase, either personally or at work, except if you score high in both the participative and the delegative then you are probably a delegative leader.
If there is only a small difference between the three scores, then this indicates that you have no clear perception of the mode you operate out of, or you are a new leader and are trying to feel out the correct style for yourself.
Final Thoughts
Normally, some of the best leaders operate out of the participative mode and use the other two modes as needed. An example of an exception would be a leader who has a new crew or temporary work-force. That leader would probably need to operate out of the authoritarian mode most of the time. On the other hand, a leader who has a crew of professionals or a crew that knows more than she or he does, would probably operate out of the delegative mode.
Leaders who want their employees to grow, use a participative style of leadership. As they grow into their jobs, then they are gradually given more authority (delegative) over their jobs.
Reliability and Validity
Since this survey is a learning tool used in training programs such as leadership development, rather than a research tool, it has not been formally checked for reliability or validity. However, since I have received feedback from various sources and it has been updated numerous times, I believe it to be a fairly accurate tool.
Next Step
This activity is based on the chapter Leadership Styles
Return to the Leadership Training and Development Outline