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Workgroup Leadership Style Questionnaire3

Workgroup Leadership Style Questionnaire Test

Learn how your team experiences your leadership style in just 3 minutes. Get a clear read on directive, collegial, or hands-off tendencies to guide coaching and stronger team alignment.

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Questions: 163 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

27,370 views

2,651 completion

2,201 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

10/16

Laissez-Faire (LF)

Measures the extent to which a leader uses a permissive, low-control style marked by leniency, low demands, and shifting responsibility.

Low permissiveness

Moderate permissiveness

High permissiveness

0 – 5: Low permissiveness | 6 – 11: Moderate permissiveness | 12 – 16: High permissiveness

A score of 10 indicates a moderate permissive tendency, suggesting relatively flexible discipline and lower day-to-day control while still retaining some expectations and oversight.

example score

7/16

Collegial (C)

Measures the degree to which a leader uses a democratic, responsibility-sharing approach that combines delegation with appropriate demands and control.

Low collegiality

Moderate collegiality

High collegiality

0 – 5: Low collegiality | 6 – 11: Moderate collegiality | 12 – 16: High collegiality

A score of 7 indicates a moderate collegial style, suggesting some delegation and shared decision-making alongside a continued need for structure and oversight.

example score

13/16

Directive (D)

Measures the extent to which a leader relies on unilateral decision-making, tight control, and strict discipline while limiting subordinate initiative.

Low directive

Moderate directive

High directive

0 – 5: Low directive | 6 – 11: Moderate directive | 12 – 16: High directive

A score of 13 indicates a high directive style, suggesting strong emphasis on authority, control over execution, and decisions made primarily by the leader.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

HR and assessment specialists

38%OF USERS

They use it to collect team feedback on managers and support hiring, promotion, and development decisions.

Team leaders and managers

34%OF USERS

They take it to understand how their direct reports experience their leadership and what to adjust in daily management.

Coaches and training facilitators

28%OF USERS

They include it in leadership programs to start honest discussions about management style and team dynamics.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Permissive (P)

Average

7.5

Normal range

5.1 — 9.9

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Collegial (C)

Average

Normal range

6.4 — 11.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Directive (D)

Average

5.1

Normal range

2.6 — 7.5

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

The questionnaire contains 16 groups of statements describing a manager’s professional qualities. Each group consists of three statements. Please read all three statements in each group carefully and select the one that most closely reflects your opinion of the manager.

- Always treats subordinates politely and kindly.
- Often shows indifference toward subordinates.
- Can be tactless and even rude toward subordinates.
- is ineffective in carrying out their responsibilities.
- generally becomes more strict.
- does not change.
- Is able to maintain discipline and order.
- Often reprimands subordinates or gives them formal warnings.
- Is unable to influence discipline.

These are 3 of the 16 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Workgroup Leadership Style Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

business

arrange

leadership style

This questionnaire is designed to assess perceived leadership behaviors within a workgroup. The Workgroup Leadership Style Questionnaire provides a brief, structured snapshot of how a leader is viewed by others in day-to-day management interactions.

The measure includes 16 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Items are intended to characterize a leader’s predominant approach (e.g., more directive, more participative, or more hands-off) based on observer ratings rather than self-report.

Results from the Workgroup Leadership Style Questionnaire may be used to support workplace feedback, leadership development planning, and organizational consultation when interpreted in context. It is attributed to R. R. Blake and J. S. Mouton.

Author: J. S. Mouton, R. R. Blake

Literature: Bass, B. M. Leadership and performance beyond expectations. Free Press. 1985.; Yukl, G. Leadership in organizations. Prentice Hall. 2002.; Campbell, J. P., McCloy, R. A., Oppler, S. H., & Sager, C. E. A theory of performance. In N. Schmitt & W. C. Borman (Eds.), Personnel selection in organizations. Jossey-Bass. 1993.; Schein, E. H. Organizational culture and leadership. Jossey-Bass. 1992.; Judge, T. A., & Bono, J. E. Relationship of core self-evaluations traits—self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability—with job satisfaction and job performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2001.