Pseudo-democratic Leadership Type

One of the leadership styles according to Sutikno (2014:35) is the Pseudo-democratic Leadership Type. This type is also called manipulative or semi-democratic leadership. This type of leadership is characterized by the attitude of a leader who tries to express his wishes and after that makes a committee, pretending to negotiate but which is actually nothing but to validate his suggestions. 

Such a leader uses democracy as a cover to obtain certain victories. The pseudo-democratic type of leader only appears to be democratic when in fact he is autocratic. This leader adheres to a pseudo-democracy and is more likely to lead to the activities of an authoritarian leader in a subtle, vague form.

 

A pseudo-democratic leader often wears a “ mask ”. He pretends to show a democratic nature in his leadership, he gives rights and powers to members to determine and decide things, but in fact he works with calculations. He set a tactic so that his power would be realized in the future. He wants to give the impression that he really does pay attention to the opinions and suggestions, but in reality he is very cunning and manipulates in such a way that it is his opinion that must be approved and accepted by the meeting.

He is actually autocratic, but in his leadership he gives the impression of being democratic. Kimball Wiles   called this way of leading as  diplomatic manipulation  or political manipulation.