What leadership approach allows employees' opinions to be heard in order to reach a consensus?

The democratic leadership style is characterized by a collaborative approach where leaders actively seek input and feedback from their team members. This leadership style values the opinions of all employees, fostering an environment of open communication and inclusivity. By engaging in discussions and enabling team members to express their viewpoints, a democratic leader aims to reach a consensus before making decisions. This not only empowers employees but can also lead to more innovative solutions, as diverse perspectives are considered.

In contrast, autocratic leadership typically involves centralized decision-making where the leader makes choices without soliciting input from their team. Laissez-faire leadership provides a high degree of autonomy to employees, often without structured guidance from the leader, which may not involve reaching a consensus. Transactional leadership focuses on exchanges and performance-based rewards rather than collective discussion and consensus-building. Thus, the democratic leadership style is the one that best fits the description of allowing employees' opinions to be heard to reach a consensus.