Lewin’s Democratic Style of Situational Leadership: A Fresh Look at a Powerful OD Model

Abstract

Kurt Lewin’s (1890-1947) democratic style of leadership was infused into his methods and research. Lewin’s democratic style combines degrees of leadership and freedom as an effective situational model. Applying democratic principles throughout his career, he documented reliable results such as increases in industrial performance and successful implementation of change. This article reintroduces Lewin’s “leadership as a triangle” concept and explores those implications with explanations from Lewin’s own action research and illustrations from the author’s OD practice. It should be noted that Lewin’s social science was a system, and that the democratic leadership style should be understood within the broader framework of Lewin’s field theory and other constructs, an exploration beyond the current scope. Nonetheless, Lewin’s leadership model holds clear implications for research and practice regarding leadership, change, engagement, and other contemporary concerns.