Indiana Social Studies S.6.6
The Standard
Describe leadership styles (authoritarian, democratic, laissez-faire) and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students tell the difference between a leader who makes decisions alone, one who seeks group input, and one who lets members decide. They explain when each approach helps a group and when it can cause problems.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a short group scenario, a student can identify the leader's approach from how decisions are made. They can name a realistic benefit and drawback of each approach and choose one that fits the task.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think a leader who takes charge is always effective, even when group members have useful ideas. They may mistake asking for input for giving up control, or assume a hands-off approach works without clear goals.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Match each to authoritarian, democratic, or laissez-faire: the leader decides alone; the leader seeks group input; members make most decisions. Write one benefit and one drawback of each.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
In three rounds, groups build index-card towers as leaders give orders, seek input, or step back; record each tower's height.
Ask, 'Who should lead a school dance committee, and when might that approach fail?' Have students name a decision the committee faces.
Read three short leader scripts aloud; students hold up A, D, or L cards and write one likely benefit and drawback.
Compare a restaurant manager's rush-hour directions with staff planning next week's menu; students choose a leadership approach for each and explain why.
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Related Standards
- E.1.6
Describe and compare the various economic systems (i.e., traditional, market, command, mixed, feudal, mercantile) and explain their strengths and weaknesses.
- S.8.9
Discuss the impact of leaders of different social movements.
- GE.2.3
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various economic systems.
- USG.1.4
Compare and contrast types of government including representative democracy, monarchy, oligarchy, totalitarianism, and anarchy.
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