Family Leadership Styles

Denise L. Hemingway Vereen

ECD 201
September 11, 2013

Scenario: Taking On The Family

A two parent household with three (3) children as
a family. The mother and father have been in a
relationship for over 11 years, conceived, and are
now raising their children together in their home.
Tragedy strikes one night and death occurs of the
father. The mother had a lifetime experience of
being raised by two parents and now she is left to
raise her children..alone. What style of family
leadership should she consider using in raising and
caring for their children based on her experiences as
a child?

Points to Consider in Family

Leadership Styles
Impacts on your leadership development
Family leadership styles experienced and/or those that you are
currently using.
Impacts of your leadership on each family member.
Affects of family theories and beliefs of child development in
leadership and raising children.
Your family leadership vs. childhood friends family leadership styles.
(Likes & Differences)
Leadership skills and abilities developed in your family compared to
those of others.
Teaching, Experiencing, and Surviving!

Hands Off Style of Leadership

Hands Off style of leadership allows family members to do whatever they
feel like doing; and the children run free with no structures, rules, or
guidelines.

oRules are set aside

oEncourages children to discover their environment for
themselves, or it may reflect a desire to raise self-reliant
children.

Participative Style of Leadership

Participative Style of leadership involves all members having a part in each
activity, and each activity is planned and carried out collectively with
guidelines and set boundaries.
Parents and children spend time together, learn, and work together as a
team.
Sharing parenting with children may reflect egalitarian values (where all
have a say so) and the desire for individuals to raise fully empowered
children.

AUTHORITARIAN STYLE OF
LEADERSHIP
Authoritarian Style of leadership is where parents determine activities and
assign tasks without any or little input from the children and they expect tasks
to be completed effectively and efficiently.
Everything is organized and efficient.
Firm, directive parenting
Survivors of oppressive society.
Maintain traditional values of respect and obedience.

What, When, Where, and How?

1.

What am I going to do without my spouse? How do you feel about

being a single parent?
2. When will leadership roles come into play in being a positive role
model?
3. Where will I gain skills and abilities in being a single parent based
on experiences that I have had in a two-parent family?
4. How will I use the participative style of leadership approach with
my children vs. the authoritarian style used in my family
experience?
5. Which family leadership style do you/will you use in raising and
caring for your family? How do you think this style will affect
and/or impact family members?
6. Have any of you experienced the authoritarian style of leadership
with your family? How did it make you feel?

Family Leadership Survival Guide

Trust in God and have Faith. You can do this.. I AM!

Establish goals and values for your family.
Set expectations for childrens success.
Encourage and influence childrens self esteem in demonstrating love and
giving praise.
Ensure adequate health care, good education, and a safe, positive
environment.
Offer or provide leadership tasks to children and engage yourself.
Show acts of leadership and positive role modeling.
Remain being the parent and not the childs friend.
Parenting is the way we prepare children to meet expectations and
challenges of their communities and to understand their society and culture.
(Learning to Lead)