In which leadership style does upper management retain most decision-making power?

In benevolent-authoritative leadership, upper management maintains a significant degree of decision-making power, although this style may also involve some level of care and concern for the welfare of subordinates. The essence of this approach lies in the idea that leaders make decisions based on their expertise and knowledge, while also considering the needs and input of employees.

This leadership style contrasts with the other options where decision-making tends to be more shared or participative. For instance, democratic leadership emphasizes collective decision-making and employee participation, while participative leadership focuses on involving employees in the decision-making process to enhance commitment and motivation. Transformational leadership is centered on inspiring and motivating followers to achieve extraordinary goals, often involving collaboration and shared visions. In benevolent-authoritative leadership, however, the leader retains a more centralized decision-making authority while still striving for a supportive and caring relationship with employees.