Autocratic, free-running leaders are not as common or well-received by employees. In contrast, consultative and participatory leaders are more common, accessible and well respected. As a consultative leader, this was a great match for my profession as a nurse manager. As a manager, I involved the staff in the decision-making process, but I still had the final say. I also considered myself a participatory leader, in that I cared about my employees and the work we did. Therefore, my leadership style adapts to the situation, and was a way to determine the most effective style (Lamberton & Minor,