The Paternalistic Management Style in The Workplace

What is the paternalistic management style? 

A paternalistic management style is one in which a leader views their team as a “family” and prioritises the needs and best interests of the team when making decisions.¹ This managerial approach usually involves an authority figure acting as a patriarch or matriarch that treats employees as extended family members.  

These leaders will often have discussions with their teams before making decisions and are good at using organisational and planning skills to prioritise objectives.² In a study of 2,226 UK employees, 55% said they would prefer companies “with a family feel, held together by tradition and loyalty.”³ 

Pros of the paternalistic management style 

Curates a high employee retention 

• Companies with paternalistic managers often have higher rates of employee retention due to the “family feel” such managers promote. Many long-term employees of such companies want to continue working there throughout their careers.⁴ 
   
• As a result of the family-like dynamic, employees with paternalistic managers are more likely to be invested in the successes of their company and will often choose to stay for longer periods of time. 

Effective communication within the team 

• Paternalistic managers tend to prioritise the best interests of the team when making decisions, so leaders and employees are able to voice concerns and address them effectively.⁴  
   
• These leaders often ask for input from employees on decisions that will have a large impact on the company, making employees feel valued. 
   
• Encouraging communication in a relaxed setting, such as over a cup of coffee, can help strengthen the bonds between managers and employees and build a more familial company culture. 

Increases employee motivation 

• Paternalistic managers focus on helping each individual in their team grow professionally and reach their goals. This motivation can come in the form of incentives, rewards, and career progression. 
   
• A familial culture with the paternal management style can help employees feel more secure in their role within the company, and therefore more passionate and motivated to do good work. 
   
• Through incentives such as dinners, coffee breaks, and team nights out, you can increase motivation among your employees and encourage working hard to achieve outcomes. We have a guide on fostering positive workplace culture here for more insights. 

Cons of the paternalistic management style 

Potentially creates an employee dependence 

• Although employees with paternalistic managers often feel valued and listened to when they have ideas to present, most decisions are still made by senior management and employees can become dependent on their leaders for supervision.⁴ 
   
• This can lead to employees feeling unable to make their own decisions and set their own expectations for work tasks and projects. 

Increased pressure on managers and team members 

• Leaders who view their teams as an extended family may have trouble delegating tasks and feel that it is unfair to ask their employees for help when they will not be participating in making the final business decisions.⁴  
   
• Team members may also feel pressure to outperform for their paternalistic manager, which can lead to a breakdown of a strong work-life balance if not monitored correctly.⁵ 

Increased possibility of bias  

• Following a more familial approach to management may lead to accusations of favouritism within teams.⁴ 
   
• Employees may notice differences in how they are treated by their manager compared to other team members which could lead to a lack of employee motivation and engagement.¹ 
   
• To avoid this, managers who choose to use the paternal management style must make sure that they have a strong network of communication across the entire team.   

A paternal management style can be a great tool for smaller companies or teams looking for a less formal company culture, however problems with employee productivity and initiative can occur. By being aware of the pros and cons of this leadership style, you can decide whether it is an appropriate management strategy for your team or business. 

See our guide on the different management styles next and find out when it’s best to use an persuasive management style vs a consultative management style. 

Learn more about paternalistic management and why not check out our article on the persuasive management style?

1. ^{Paternalistic Leadership, Health Assured}  
2. ^{When Work Feels Like Family, Employees Keep Quiet About Wrongdoing, Harvard Business Review}  
3. ^{Pros and Cons of Paternalistic Leadership, Indeed.com} 
4. ^{The Dark Side of Saying Work Is ‘Like a Family’, The Atlantic}