In evaluating a manager, which sign would indicate a non-directive leadership style?

• A. Does the manager foster dependency?
• B. Does the manager ask for ideas from the staff when decisions need to be made?
• C. Does the manager show different leadership styles depending on the situation?
• D. Is the manager passive and non-directive?

Answer: (D)

Non-directive leadership focuses on giving teams autonomy and stepping back from micromanaging. In this style, the manager provides little direction, avoids imposing methods, and expects the group to organize their own work. That’s why a sign of this approach is a manager who is passive and non-directive—quietly backing away from giving clear instructions or ongoing guidance.

Fostering dependency would signal the opposite—cultivating reliance on the manager rather than empowering the team. Asking for ideas from staff when decisions need to be made points to a participative or democratic approach, not a non-directive one. Similarly, showing different leadership styles depending on the situation describes situational leadership, which involves adapting rather than remaining passive.