Workplaces that use participative management seek to integrate the expertise of their employees into company decision-making. A participative management structure enables employees at all levels to impact company operations and goals. If your company uses this management style, you might have the opportunity to develop strategies, share your analysis of problems and offer ways to implement solutions.
In this article, we explore what participative management is, discuss its many forms and describe what you can expect if your employer uses this management structure.
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Career development
What Is Participative Management? Strategies and Skills
What Is Participative Management? Strategies and Skills
Updated October 20, 2022
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Workplaces that use participative management seek to integrate the expertise of their employees into company decision-making. A participative management structure enables employees at all levels to impact company operations and goals. If your company uses this management style, you might have the opportunity to develop strategies, share your analysis of problems and offer ways to implement solutions.
In this article, we explore what participative management is, discuss its many forms and describe what you can expect if your employer uses this management structure.
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What is participative management?
Participative management is a leadership structure that encourages people from multiple levels of a company to contribute to managing the organization. Companies that employ this style typically hold positions with formal management roles, but those managers prioritize taking feedback and requesting input from other employees.
Participative management has many benefits, including:
Teams may feel more supported in developing innovative and diverse ideas.
Employees may feel more personally invested in achieving goals, meeting deadlines and developing solutions.
Employees may experience increased morale and job satisfaction.
A company’s employee retention may improve.
Types of participative management
Depending on your company’s style of participative management, your supervisors may seek your input in different ways. The basic participative management types include:
Consultation style
One of the most popular forms of participative management uses a consultation-like approach. Managers seek employee input before making decisions or implementing changes that can impact the rest of the company. Gathering multiple opinions from colleagues is a great way to gain different perspectives. They then consider these ideas before making an independent final decision.
