Supervision in the Hospitality Industry- AHLEI Practice Test

How would you characterize Joel's leadership style with empowered banquet service teams?

1. Laissez-faire

2. Bureaucratic

3. Dictatorial

4. Autocratic

The correct answer is: Laissez-faire

Joel's leadership style, characterized by empowered banquet service teams, aligns with the laissez-faire model. This approach allows team members significant autonomy to make decisions regarding their work, promoting a creative and collaborative environment. In a laissez-faire leadership style, the leader provides support and guidance when necessary but trusts the team to take initiative and manage their responsibilities. Empowerment is a key aspect of this style; it encourages team members to utilize their skills and expertise, leading to increased job satisfaction, motivation, and ownership of their roles. When teams feel empowered, they are more likely to innovate and solve problems effectively, which is particularly important in the dynamic environment of banquet services. In contrast, the other leadership styles mentioned—bureaucratic, dictatorial, and autocratic—impose more control and limit the autonomy of team members. Bureaucratic leadership relies heavily on rules and procedures, dictatorial leadership involves making decisions without input from team members, and autocratic leadership entails a directive approach with little room for team participation. These styles would not foster the same level of empowerment seen in Joel's approach, highlighting why the laissez-faire characterization is the most accurate in this context.