Which description best fits participative leadership?

• A. A leader sets high goals and expects strong performance.
• B. The leader includes employees in decision-making.
• C. The leader focuses on maintaining structure and control.
• D. The leader relies on rewards and punishments to manage performance.

Answer: (B)

Participative leadership centers on inviting input from team members and sharing decision-making authority. It treats employees as partners in shaping goals, policies, and procedures, which builds a sense of ownership, motivation, and commitment to the work. In a criminal justice context, a supervisor who asks officers for their ideas on shift schedules, case prioritization, or policy adjustments and then uses that input to inform decisions exemplifies this approach. This style contrasts with more directive or controlling approaches that emphasize setting goals and expecting performance without input, or relying mainly on rewards and punishments to drive behavior.