1. Laissez-Faire Leadership
Navigating Leadership Roles

2. Laissez-Faire Defined
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines laissez-faire leadership as:
“A philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction or interference, especially with individual freedom of choice and action.”

3. Mean Girls
Laissez Faire Parenting

4. My Laissez-Faire Experiene
From military to civilian
A journey from autocratic authoritarianism to lassiez-faire

5. What it is What it is Hands-off leadership style
More responsibility for the worker
More creativity
Delegated responsibility
Trust in the team to get the job done
Useful in start-ups
Surrounded by self-motivated, professional people

6. What it isn’t What it isn’t Autocratic Micromanaged
Can result is poor time management
Poor training can result in poor performance

7. Laissez-Faire Leadership
POSITIVE Laissez-Faire Leadership in Action: Apollo 13 video (Get the best minds together)

8. Laissez-Faire Leadership
What did you see in the video?
What are the positives?
Negatives?

9. Where can we use Lassiez-Faire leadership?
Creative business
Startups where innovation is needed
Advertising
R&D
Arts
Social Media
Education??? – When do we see this in education?

10. Laissiez Faire in Education
After school programs?
Home schooling?
Coaches?

11. Pros Complete freedom in team decision making
Highly skilled and motivated team members
Team members are experts

12. Cons
Could lead to exploitation as it did during the Industrial Revolution
Poorly defined team rolls
Possible reduction in productivity
Poorly defined team goals
Lack of responsibility for team leaders

13. Laissez-Faire Leaders in History
Warren Buffett: “Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you’ll drift in that direction.”
Once an investment decision is made, he trusts his managers to know how to achieve the performance he expects.

14. Donna Karan
“I design from instinct. It’s the only way I know how to live. What feels good. What feels right. What is needed. Give me a problem and I will approach it creatively, from my gut.”
Founder of DKNY jeans and apparel, enjoys a reputation as an attentive but hands-off leader 

15. Ronald Regan
“Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.”

16. Laissez-Faire Projects
Transcontinental Railroad
Panama Canal
Hoover Dam
US Interstate Highway System

17. Sites and References
dictionary/economics/laissez-faire-3627
leadership-style-examples