One of the primary reasons why the autocratic leadership style tends to fail is because it is fully dependent upon the skills and knowledge of the leader. Although an autocratic leader can have a challenging personality, most employees prefer to work in an environment where there are clear expectations set for them. This can lead to burnout. Open lines of communication ensure that everyone on the team is working toward the same goal. In addition, in this style of leadership, managers don't take care of the opinions of their staff and ore not open to changes. Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. Autocracy has many benefits as well as some drawbacks. Many autocratic leaders turn into severe micromanagers, making it difficult for workers to do their job because theyre always forced to report on what they are doing at any given moment. 5. It may create an unwelcome culture within the organization. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership pdf It would be a great world if everyone could work together cohesively, pushing a business to its desired goal. Situations such as dealing with hazardous materials spill and closing or keeping a business open during an accident can be dealt with instantly and effectively with this style of leadership. For example: When quick decisions are needed in a company (e.g. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. . Leadership styles There are many ways to lead and every leader has his or her own style. 8. Here're some benefits of autocratic leadership: Ensures faster decision making In autocratic leadership, there're fewer levels of administration and hierarchy that you inform before implementing the decision. Autocratic leadership involves absolute, authoritarian control over a group of people. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. Low satisfaction also results in below performance than expectations. They arent required to wait for the feedback from senior managers or consult with a leadership team. An autocratic leader is the sole authority in her company, on her team or at the head of the group she is tasked with leading. The leader is the only person to take the decision solely as they are in charge . Subordinates are expected to comply with orders from their supervisors, who in turn are expected to comply with orders from their superiors. Managers with this type of leadership style, keep a close eye on what is happening in their organisations. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. There is nothing complicated about the autocratic leadership style. Advantages. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. This system leaves the employees stress-free. It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. Autocratic - quick decision making is guaranteed; Autocratic - good for inexperienced workers; . What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? Workers are forced to rely on the autocratic leader for all their feedback, instructions, and work duties. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. Do you know why? Let's explore whether an autocratic leadership style is the right one for you: Benefits of Autocratic Leadership Style. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. Because of the vertical or one-way communication channel subordinates do not get the opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts. One of the greatest advantages to working with an autocratic leader is that the employee always knows whats expected and what will happen if they fail to perform as expected. This approach derives from the views of Taylor as to how to motivate workers and relates to McGregor's theory X view of workers. This is because they do not consult any other members of their team, so they dont have to wait for other opinions or work through different perspectives to find an appropriate compromise. advantages of the autocratic leadership style, autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. Put plainly, an autocratic leader is a leader who has total control over their jurisdiction and does not request or accept input from employees regarding their decisions. The advantages and disadvantages below refer to autocracy in general, including the two types of autocracy as discussed above. In this article, we outline some essential, This leadership style enables quick decision-making, which is one of the most significant. The advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style show that it can be effective when an organization requires quick, accurate decisions from an experienced leader. Decentralisation and Leadership Styles (AQA Paper 1 2019, Q20) Exam Support What is leadership? Faster decision-making and quick information-sharing can help boost the teams productivity. It encourages a higher churn rate. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. The Disadvantages of Impulsive Management, Management Styles That Elevate vs. Devalue Employees. It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. 3. Autocratic leaders do not appreciate any inputs from their team members. Many leaders use autocratic leadership style to establish centralised control in exercising the decision-making authority and use that control to accomplish the desired results. Also, graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA in Business & Management Studies and completed a DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching in the Life-Long Learning Sector) from London South Bank University. Characteristics of autocratic leadership style. Autocratic leadership is a type of leadership that is individual-centric. If you know anything about democratic leadership, you will know that it sounds better than autocracy. A military leader who cannot make executive decisions can cause a security breach during critical operations, and military personnel who do not receive clear, direct orders from their leaders can become confused and fail to act when necessary. The democratic leadership style does solicit for opinions, perspectives, and experiences. However, this does not mean you should be satisfied with your current self and avoid growth. Khan et al. Your email address will not be published. The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. But rarely do employees know that there are several. The advantages of Autocratic Leadership are: 1. Each person benefits from the regulated competencies that are offered by the leader. Autocratic - cause frustration and resentment because the system is so dependent on the leader and because of the non-participation if workers . Management & Leadership Styles | Autocratic, Democratic, Paternalistic, Laissez- Faire and More Two Teachers 16K subscribers Subscribe 224 Share Save 27K views 3 years ago Business Studies Videos. You must have seen people with varied working styles, ways of talking, and traits. Autocratic leadership - Definition, Components, Advantage, Disadvantages. Disadvantages. Often, autocratic leaders are referred to as micromanagers. 7. Did you ever invite him for a drink? This can be beneficial for organizations that need to maintain a strong sense of control and predictability. What makes a good leader or manager? Advantages Autocratic style of leadership is very effective in times of emergency or stress since people will always work from orders or commands of their leaders. That means leaders using this style tend to be busier than other leaders. By the autocratic leadership principle, people who work in an autocratic organization or under an autocratic leader must accept the order, instruction, and command of the leader. To conclude, though autocratic leadership style has several disadvantages, it can be argued that there are some situations autocratic leadership style should yield better results for organisations. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. 1. 10. Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. This person: Assigns tasks Keeps everyone on deadline Focuses on the big picture Makes sure everyone contributes equally The manager will however make the actual decisions (in the best interests of the workers) as they believe the staff still need direction and in this way it is still somewhat of an autocratic approach. Due to this behaviour, the leader should yield the ultimate power and provide the employees with the motivation to work, i.e. But, in an autocratic environment, there is no employee participation and their concerns are ignored. Strict compliance becomes necessary. If there isnt enough time to develop personal skills or learn something new, then autocratic leaders are still able to get the job done. The employees need not wait for the thumbs up from seniors or ask for a deadline extension if they can get all the approvals and data on time. Increased autonomy 2. Contrary to popular opinions, many organisations are well suited to the autocratic leadership type at some degree. There is no gray area for employee performance in this type of environment, which can be comforting for employees. Many say the autocratic leadership style is unfit in todays business environment. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. Because of the strict method in which employees are micromanaged, there is no room for flexibility within the work environment. Autocratic leaders do not take input from other members of a team in their decisions. There are high levels of frustration often found in an autocratic environment, even if workers are inexperienced. Many companies tend to turn to an autocratic leadership style when they need to create short-term results in an urgent way. They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. The employees need not wait for the thumbs up from seniors or ask for a deadline extension if they can get all the approvals and data on time. But this might not be possible with an autocratic leadership style. send our content editing team a message here, 11 Office Closed Due to Inclement Weather Messages, 50 Most Asked Nursing Interview Questions with Answers, 20 Best Answers to Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Job, 10 Best Answers to Why Do You Want to Be a Manager, 11 Best Answers to What Does Leadership Mean to You Interview Question, 50 Most Asked Front Desk Interview Questions with Answers, 10 Best Ways to Answer Sell Me This Pen in an Interview, 10 Most Asked Integrity Interview Questions with Answers, 25 Most Asked Confidentiality Interview Questions with Answers, 50 Most Asked Phone Interview Questions with Answers, 10 Best Answers to What Are Your Interests and Hobbies. Some are strict with their staff and like to be in complete control, whilst others are more relaxed and allow workers the freedom to run their own working lives (just like the different approaches you may see in teachers!). Tel: +44 0844 800 0085. At the end of the day, the autocratic leader is like the captain of a ship: every decision is a weight on their shoulders and they are ultimately responsible for what happens. Disadvantages. In other styles, there is a risk that by the time employees receive the message, the entire original message could be lost or there could be multiple interpretations of the message that create confusion. They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. If an autocratic leader is put in charge of an inexperienced team, theyll be able to get the job done by outlining specific instructions to follow. Autocratic leaders are in charge and they make this fact known. Pros If they face a decision in the work they are doing, they are almost forced to go to the leader for advice on what to do instead of making the decision on their own. Employees feel motivated and devote their maximum effort when they feel valued for their presence and contribution. There are three main categories of leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. It is an easy way to cut through administrative red tape to ensure better communication to all workers. Company Reg no: 04489574. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. Control in the group is minimal; authority is shared among members. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. In this type of leadership, the rules and procedures that teams use are quite rigid. . The Advantages of the Laissez-Faire Leadership Style Here is a list of the pros of the Laissez-Faire Leadership style: 1. According to IPL.org, autocratic leadership is an extreme form of another kind of workplace leadership known as transactional leadership. Under autocratic leaders, subordinates would fear due to demands and expectations. One of the greatest advantages to working with an autocratic leader is that the employee always knows what's expected and what will happen if they fail to perform as expected. They use their personal experiences to form rules or regulations that translate into step-by-step instructions for workers to follow. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. Autocratic Leadership (Authoritarian): A leadership style in which an individual is in control of all the decisions and tasks and his/her "followers" have little to no say in the final decision. The first involves the work that gets done. As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. This is the foundation of a management style called transformational leadership, which pulls everyone in on major decisions, ensuring the entire team is personally invested in . This may make many employees feeling intellectually stifled. Autocratic leaders generally could use organizational . That is because there is one person and they are in charge of all arrangements. List of the Advantages of Autocratic Leadership 1. They must control the consistency at a personal level, which means they can no longer afford to give their team any freedom to operate. It removes the pressure on the employees. This is yet another of the several, advantages of autocratic leadership style. Definition, Features, Principles, and Cycle, What is TQM? List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. This leadership style can produce authoritative short-term results. To bring in information to the group members. However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. Leader Dependence. Autocratic leaders tend to do well in these settings because they ensure that projects are finished on time and that workers follow safety rules to prevent accidents and injuries. For example, the team will have a clear vision of expectations and where their project and company is going. In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. While the advantages and disadvantages of leadership styles are not always readily apparent, one thing is certain - being decisive while avoiding autocratic leadership tactics is necessary for successful leaders and negotiators alike. That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. Among all the recognized autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses, perhaps one of the most prominent is that this leadership style can cause employees to resent their leader and even their organization. Definitions of autocratic leadership style. But, this lacks in autocratic organizations. Charismatic leaders usually display a great level of confidence to convince a large audience. This is yet another of the several advantages of autocratic leadership style. Advantages Autocratic style of leadership is very effective in times of emergency or stress since people will always work from orders or commands of their leaders. Advantages The pros of this approach include: Decisions can be made rapidly which may keep the team agile and very quick to respond to challenges. Quick decision: Quick decision making is guaranteed because a single person decides for the whole group. The cadets were fresh and were eager to learn, my Commanding Officer told me to do the "traditional" way of welcoming the cadets, this in fact is very beneficial to me and us because it instill dis. Many analysts argue that late Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Inc.), Elon Musk, and to some extent Bill Gates are autocratic leaders. - good style for meetings. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. The leader will need to create the system, with all the rules and procedures, in which the team uses to operate and reach goals. These. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. advantages of democratic leadership. Some are encouraging and collaborative, while others are commanding and dominating. Autocratic leadership, also known as authoritarian leadership, is a style of leadership characterized by direct, top-down communication and commands. Create a leadership learning plan. When the leader is the only person in the organization who makes decisions and determines the companys strategy, they can easily feel overwhelmed. Because of one-way communication and lack of recognition employees do not get the answers to the questions they deserve. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. The decision can be made faster with this leadership style. They can replicate results because they are given specific instructions to follow. This creates more speed, better productivity, and enhanced efficiencies within the workplace. What is the cons of autocratic leadership? Professionals operating under this leadership can have lower confidence and slower decision-making skills. As such, in autocratic leadership, faster decisions can be made. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. 1. Because autocratic leaders are able to move information throughout an organization quickly, there are fewer delays in productivity. However, according to Schaeffer (2002) autocratic leaders are not those who bully people needlessly. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. Autocratic leadership style ensures that a consistent message is sent from the centre to the employees at the bottom of the organisations. 5. Definition, Principles, Techniques, and Pros/Cons. How was that going for you? Copyright 2017 2025. As such people working under autocratic leaders are supposed to accept the guidance or orders of their leader without any disagreement. This lack of adaptability within your workforce can . Resulting in taking ideas and not implementing them. If the leader offers questionable ethics, however, and refuses to create fairness, then there is no one who can really hold that person accountable. 4. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Additionally, a leader like this improves workplace efficiency by instructing staff members on what to do and how to meet deadlines. When controlling large numbers of low skilled workers. In a system of dependence, an autocratic leadership style creates a lack of trust between you and your workers. Definition and Pros/Cons, Demings 14 Points For Quality Management [Explained], What is Deming Management? Most autocratic leaders will not take the opinions, experiences, or knowledge of their team members into account when making decisions. This improves the speed of decisions because only one person is weighing the pros and cons of each choice, not a C-Suite. "An organisation is only as good as the person running it". These environments allow for an error margin of zero. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc. Managers are interested in how happy workers feel and in many ways they act as a father figure (pater means father in Latin). The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. With little or no input by their subordinates, autocratic leaders are free to make decisions, define policies and direct work wherever they feel is most effective. The communication in the autocratic leadership can be considered as "one-way" ( the manager say . Laissez-Faire. These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. support and direction. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership Quick Decision-Making Clearly Defined Structure Timely Work Completion Effective Communication Easy Acceptance Right for Inexperienced Employees Increased Efficiency and Productivity Suitable for Small Organizations Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership Less Morale and Motivation High Turnover Low Satisfaction When the autocratic leadership style is used with an inexperienced team, the experience of the leader can replace the skill gap that is present. These benefits of autocratic leadership can swiftly take the team out of trouble. When a company crisis occurs, a leader with authoritative traits can begin to call the shots to make immediate changes. One of the primary characteristics of autocratic leadership is a clearly defined chain of command. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. LS23 6AD Attner, R. and Plunkett, W. (1994) Introduction to management, 5th edition, California: Wadsworth, Inc. Murphy, M. (2019) Does anyone actually like autocratic leaders? But it becomes ineffective in large and diversified organizations. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Autocracy: Leadership is a crucial talent that can be applied to any profession or career as the case may be, and there are several leadership styles to choose from.
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