In which leadership style do leaders set objectives but allow teams to decide how to achieve them?

The choice of free-rein (or laissez-faire) leadership is accurate because this style is characterized by a high degree of autonomy granted to team members. In a free-rein leadership environment, leaders provide the overall goals and objectives but step back from directing the specific methods or processes for accomplishing those goals. This approach encourages creativity, independence, and empowerment among team members, allowing them to use their skills and insights to devise their own strategies for success.

In contrast, other leadership styles, such as transactional leadership, emphasize a more directive approach where leaders establish clear tasks and expect compliance in return for rewards or penalties. Autocratic leadership involves making decisions unilaterally without group input, meaning team members have very little say in how objectives are achieved. Transformational leadership, on the other hand, focuses on inspiring and motivating teams to exceed expectations and foster collaboration, but still typically involves more guidance and direction than a laissez-faire approach. Thus, the essence of free-rein leadership lies in its encouragement of self-management within the framework provided by the leader's guidelines.