Which leadership style assigns work and decision-making responsibilities to others within defined boundaries?

• A. Laissez-Faire Approach
• B. Facilitative Leadership Style
• C. Consultative Leadership Style
• D. Delegative Style

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is giving people responsibility for both tasks and the decisions that drive them, but within clearly defined limits. The delegative style does this by empowering others to handle work and make decisions, while the leader sets the boundaries—like goals, resources, timelines, and accountability—and remains responsible at a high level. This arrangement promotes ownership and faster action, since team members operate with autonomy within the agreed scope. It also helps develop capability, as people learn to make decisions aligned with the overall objectives. By contrast, laissez-faire often lacks structure and accountability, facilitative leadership centers on guiding a group process rather than transferring decision rights, and consultative leadership involves seeking input before the leader makes a final decision, so authority doesn’t fully transfer to others.