What does it take to be “The Man”? In this lesson, students will discuss different types of leadership styles and the advantages and disadvantages of democratic leadership in several situations. This lesson features a video about the qualities and characteristics of democratic leaders. Students will learn and practice vocabulary relating to the topic. The lesson includes plenty of engaging discussion activities and worksheets that have been developed for adult and teenage learners.

Lesson Objectives

To develop speaking and listening skills

To discuss different types of leadership styles and the advantages and disadvantages of democratic leadership

To learn and practice new vocabulary words relating to the topic

Video

What is the difference between the decentralized approach versus the centralized approach to power and authority? What type of leadership is the best? Watch this video to learn about the qualities and characteristics of democratic leaders.

Video Transcript

Vocabulary and Pronunciation

the man [noun]: a slang phrase, used in the United States, that may refer to the government or to some other authority in a position of power

democratic leadership [noun]: a leadership style in which members of the group participate in the decision-making process

autocratic leadership [noun]: a leadership style in which a leader dictates policies and procedures, decides what goals are to be achieved, and directs and controls all activities without any meaningful participation by the subordinates

laissez-faire leadership [noun]: an economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention

decentralized approach [noun]: the process of which each department or business unit is fully aware of their needs and understanding how analytics would help, buys software, procures the hardware, and hires a team to build their solution

centralized approach [noun]: the process of which decisions are made by a small group of people and then communicated to the lower-level managers

weigh the pros and cons [idiom]: the process of considering the advantages and disadvantages of something before coming to a decision

two heads are better than one [idiom]: it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone

off the hook [idiom]: not blamed or in trouble

accountability [noun]: responsibility for one’s actions

mutually beneficial [adjective]: advantageous for both sides

changing of the guard [idiom]: a change in leadership at an organization or within a government

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