Notice the emphases of each style:
    The Directive style is Authoritarian - it operates by control and power
    The Democratic is Political - it operates by consensus and negotiation
    The Participative is Delegative - it operates by empowering people and delegating to them freedom to 
        function

As we have noted above, not any one of these is right or wrong.
Leaders must decide based on the situation and maturity of the group which is the most appropriate.

THE DIRECTIVE STYLE

The Directive Style is found most often in the Military or Corporate world where Authority and Control are directed from the Top Down.
In this model the leaders meet in top echelon (level) meetings to make decisions and pass them down to the workers.

THE DEMOCRATIC STYLE

The Democratic Style is found in groups where there is really no upper level of command and where all are on the same level.
The term Democratic is derived from two Greek words which mean "the power of the people".
In this model the people elect representatives who act in their behalf.
Negotiation plays a major role in this style.
Consensus and compromise are important dynamics of the democratic style.
The representatives are only the voice of the people and can be removed from "office" by those who elected or appointed them.

THE PARTICIPATIVE STYLE

The Participative Style understands that all the members of the group are of value and that they share a common vision.
This style builds on the concept of teamwork and empowerment in which work is delegated.
Because the group have shared vision and values, freedom is granted to function within the parameters (boundaries) of the values and vision.
There is a significant emphasis on responsible action and accountability to the groups values and vision.
Trust and relationships are of paramount (highest) importance to the participative style.

The following three charts diagram the Directive, Democratic, and Participative Models of Leadership:

This Pyramid Corporate model which has been the corporate model of management demonstrates the control management elements of the model.
It is difficult to argue that this is a leadership model, for there is a distinct difference between Leadership and Management.
 

This Democratic model of leadership "flattens" the style from a vertical model of control to a horizontal model of participative service. This model may not work in a corporate model, but the dynamic will be present in models that empower leaders to creatively serve within certain parameters. This diagram demonstrates how a participative model of leadership may function. The dynamic of this model is that every person, worker, or member has a function that serves the purpose of the body or organization. Each member of the body has certain parameters in which to function and the empowerment to function within those parameters. The driving force of this model is that each member serves the purpose of the body and the other members as well.