Check out Harappas Inspiring Faculty Program and experience growth in your leadership now. 2. It can also mean workers personal needs are neglected, causing them to feel like their supervisor does not care about them as individuals. Transactional leadership is characterized by a leader/subordinate relationship governed by exchange, and with an autocratic leader, this exchange is total compliance with expectations for continued employment with the company. The main characteristics of autocratic leadership style are as follows: * Autocratic leaders make all the decisions and pass them down to the people under them for implementation. What leads to a successful working relationship is an ability of workers to have trust in their leaders, and vice-versa. That makes it almost impossible for leaders to leave the workplace, as workers can become so dependent on their decision-making abilities that nothing gets done if the leader is not present for some reason. Here are the top advantages of autocratic leadership: This leadership style enables quick decision-making, which is one of the most significant benefits of autocratic leadership. This creates more speed, better productivity, and enhanced efficiencies within the workplace. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. 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. These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. There is nothing complicated about the autocratic leadership style. That means workers tend to not take ownership of the work they do because there is no incentive to do so. This is yet another of the several, advantages of autocratic leadership style. Laissez-Faire. Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. These were the autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. A team can become so dependent upon the leader that they stop functioning when their directions are no longer present. Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. There is no doubting where fault lies of poor decisions. That means workers who are highly skilled or motivated begin to lose their incentives to stay active under this leadership structure. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. When there are multiple levels of leadership within an organization, a command from the top becomes like a childhood game of Telephone. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. The lack of flexibility in environments headed by autocratic leaders can drive creative and motivated employees away. Contrast this with an autocratic leader, who does not ask their team for their input when making a decision. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. They are bound to follow whatever the leaders ask them. The manager respects employees' insight and asks them to help make the best decision, and the team respects the leader's ability to ultimately make the right call after considering their viewpoints. Autocratic leadership involves absolute, authoritarian control over a group of people. Disadvantages. On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. They even need guidance and instruction on how to, to do the given jobs. That is because there is one person and they are in charge of all arrangements. On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. It allows for fast decisions to be made. 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. Likewise, as an autocratic leader is not necessarily the same as being a fascist, there are people with certain personalities, who may indeed work well under this type of leadership style (Murphy, 2019). advantages of the autocratic leadership style, autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. VAT reg no 816865400. There are some work environments which require a high level of control. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. Some people dont like the idea of coming up with new ideas. ? Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more! Likewise, this style is also very effective when astringent synchronisation of processes is essential to productivity. Autocratic leaders are often micromanagers. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. In the directing format, the subordinates of the leader are told what to do, how to do it, and when the deadline happens to be. Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. Along with many advantages, the autocratic leadership style also has various disadvantages. This is an advantage because team members can continue projects, move deadlines, and remove obstacles that could negatively impact their overall productivity. This person: Assigns tasks Keeps everyone on deadline Focuses on the big picture Makes sure everyone contributes equally Team members have creative freedom 3. Company Reg no: 04489574. Quick decision: Quick decision making is guaranteed because a single person decides for the whole group. There is no doubt that laissez-faire can bring significant disadvantages to an organisation - especially where conditions are not conducive to such a liberal style of management. Because of one-way communication and lack of recognition employees do not get the answers to the questions they deserve. They can replicate results because they are given specific instructions to follow. Good leaders can produce great results. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. This improves the speed of decisions because only one person is weighing the pros and cons of each choice, not a C-Suite. When an autocratic leadership style is used in these situations, then the control the policies and procedures provide encourage a deeper commitment to safety. The leader will need to create the system, with all the rules and procedures, in which the team uses to operate and reach goals. In this type of leadership, the rules and procedures that teams use are quite rigid. . In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. That means leaders using this style tend to be busier than other leaders. Autocratic - cause frustration and resentment because the system is so dependent on the leader and because of the non-participation if workers . What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? After all, this is what good leadership is all about. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. You may also like reading Advantages and disadvantages of private limited company. A clear chain of command is important in certain environments, like the military. Even if low-skill tasks need to get done, it is the leaders responsibility to make sure someone makes copies, gets coffee, or files documents properly. 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. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. It creates a lack of feedback. An autocratic leader makes decisions and communicates them on time, making sure that the team has all the information they need to finish the project on schedule. People only thrive here is there is no investment in what they do. And they are accountable for the outcomes. Provides a clear sense of direction Anyone who's worked on a class group project knows the value of having a leader. Autocratic - quick decision making is guaranteed; Autocratic - good for inexperienced workers; . The result is a more consistent and accurate output. They can easily manage these issues because they're the only ones who get to call the shots. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. Inexperienced employees lack the ability to understand the outlined rules and regulations of the organization. It gets even worse if workers can voice an opinion that is never utilized. Although in authoritarian leadership, there is one-way communication there also exists effective communication. autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages? In this kind of leadership mostly leader makes new contacts with outside people. According to IPL.org, autocratic leadership is an extreme form of another kind of workplace leadership known as transactional leadership. * Very limited or no input at all from the subordinates. One of the disadvantages of autocratic leadership is that it degrades the employees morale and motivation. Instead of there being a democratic process for teams, there are no group positions of leadership with the autocratic style. A work environment where autocratic leadership style is exercised is usually not friendly to innovation or creative thinking. - consultative although the manager will have the final say. This working environment can leave employees feeling suppressed. The first involves the work that gets done. 8. List of the Advantages of the Autocratic Leadership Style 1. can swiftly take the team out of trouble. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. Strict compliance becomes necessary. However, this leadership style become less effective in large organizations. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. Copyright 2017 2025. As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. 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. For leaders who don't care much about power and prefer to be appreciated by being of service to others, this is the main advantage. The Advantages of the Laissez-Faire Leadership Style Here is a list of the pros of the Laissez-Faire Leadership style: 1. Definition, Features, Principles, and Cycle, What is TQM? 9. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. This helps to resolve the emergencies rather effectively when compared to other leadership styles. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. 1. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. Communication is the systematic process of passing information from one person to another. When this happens, productivity levels tend to decrease over time instead of increase. 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!). In . Inexperienced teams can still produce experienced results. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. This can mean the only employees who remain working with the company are unmotivated and even lazy individuals. But, the results always lead to corporate success. Did you ever invite him for a drink? Nevertheless, autocratic leadership is one of the least popular management styles and certainly not suitable for each organisation. For employees, an environment where decision-making is solely the managers job can mean a relatively low stress environment. When the leaders are taking ownership for the quality of the completed work, there is no opportunity for team members to do so. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. But, what is autocratic leadership? 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. There may be dangerous situations or working environments which require complicated tasks to be completed. Sources: 9. Autocratic leadership has a clearly defined chain of command. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. Although this kind of leadership can sound harsh at first, it can be very effective. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. The three commonly observed leadership . 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. Professionals operating under this leadership can have lower confidence and slower decision-making skills. The foundation of the autocratic leadership style is one built on mistrust. Most autocratic leaders do not consider the opinions or abilities of their staff members while making decisions. 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. An autocratic. Individual decision making: Less competent sub-managers can be used only to carry out the orders of the boss. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. Autocratic leaders are typically trusted with decisions or important tasks. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. That need is generated by an overall lack of trust. When there isnt enough time to learn something new or a project must be completed rapidly, this type of leadership is the best option. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. Required fields are marked *. Autocratic leadership, also known as authoritarian leadership, is a style of leadership characterized by direct, top-down communication and commands. 1. Advantages of charismatic leadership style. Your email address will not be published. In workplaces where the employees are largely young and inexperienced, autocratic leadership can be the most effective approach. For many it is someone who can inspire and get the most from their staff. Leadership styles There are many ways to lead and every leader has his or her own style. This style has close links with Herzberg's motivators and Maslow's higher order skills and also applies to McGregor's theory Y view of workers. Autocratic leaders have the opportunity to take full control, responsibility and stress and build and maintain a productive operation. They consult employees over issues and listen to their feedback or opinions. Autocratic leadership is . Strong sense of control and direction: Autocratic leaders provide clear direction and expectations for their team members, which can create a sense of order and stability. Although creativity, independent thinking, and new processes are included as part of the overall leadership style, their implementation is not a top priority. - increases employee satisfaction and motivation. Both leadership styles are very well known and are often used due to . When a team leaders style can be summarized with my way or the highway, that leader can accurately be called an autocrat. The second involves a leader refusing to take responsibility for work they personally instructed a worker to complete. This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. Leaders are of different types. It also explores the definitions of autocratic leadership style and provides the readers with a list of characteristics and examples of autocratic leaders from different fields. This procedure often leads to the consistent delivery of projects and has a significant impact on the employees performance and productivity. As such, between them, there is no communication and you know communication is a must for a healthy relationship. The quality of a team, structure, or organization practicing autocratic leadership is dependent upon the ethics of the leader in charge. It is therefore easy for the autocratic leaders to make the organisational goals clear to the subordinates resulting in better and higher commitment to the accomplishment of the goals. Communication is the systematic process of passing information from one person to another. When the leader is the only person in the organization who makes decisions and determines the companys strategy, they can easily feel overwhelmed. That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way. Inexperienced employees generally need a lot of hands-on guidance from their supervisors to learn their roles, learn how to perform their job duties effectively and learn how to work well within the organization. That means all creative decisions originate from the leader. 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. He has the sole authority to command, direct, and instruct all the team members. 1. The advantages and disadvantages below refer to autocracy in general, including the two types of autocracy as discussed above. Such times require a leader with ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. Hence, he ensures that the products manufactured and services rendered meet the desired quality benchmarks. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. Workers can benefit from the competencies offered by their leader, replicating productivity by using the leaders knowledge and experience as a workplace asset. This allow for a quick turn-around of the issue, helping the company to begin pursuing its mission once again. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. Disadvantages: Although some managers adopt democratic leadership, it is just to please their subordinates but they do not follow the technique fully. The leader defines goals and the limitations for action and then leaves the remaining process. Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. For example, the team will have a clear vision of expectations and where their project and company is going. They just want to come to work, do what theyre told, then go home at the end of the day with a paycheck. 4. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. This is yet another of the several advantages of autocratic leadership style. Many companies have been forced to completely reset their under-performing teams because the leadership in place formed the identity of everyone involved. This approach has limitations (as highlighted by other motivational theorists such as Mayo and Herzberg) but it can be effective in certain situations. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Autocratic leaders generally believe that they are the smartest people around and know more than their subordinates. 3. new data says yes, available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2019/11/24/does-anyone-actually-like-autocratic-leaders-new-data-says-yes/?sh=bd0ef4e10de5 (accessed 06 April 2021), Schaeffer, L. (2002) The leadership journey, available at: https://hbr.org/2002/10/the-leadership-journey (accessed 06 April 2021), St Thomas University (2018) What is Autocratic Leadership? This may make many employees feeling intellectually stifled. Now, she's focusing her writing on helping other small business owners and people planning to become small business owners navigate this crazy thing we call entrepreneurship. Analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style by examining examples of leaders and companies. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. There Is No Room for Flexibility. The employees have clear and strict job descriptions and know what to do and what is expected of them. And, you know discipline is the key to achieving something. There is just one person in charge. Whether this style makes a good leader has been a longstanding debate. 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. Although their primary aim should be to achieve business goals, as leaders, it is also their responsibility to add value to employees. Whatever approach is predominately used it will be vital to the success of the business. Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. And what are autocratic leadership pros and cons? Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership Quick Decision Making. And what are. Autocratic leaders rely on specific rules, policies, and procedures to govern all processes within the workplace. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. Organisational continuity is threatened in the absence of the leader . It creates focused targets for everyone. Working with a supervisor who makes all expectations clear and specifies exactly how to perform tasks can make the process of acclimating to a new work environment much easier for the employee. What makes a good leader or manager? They use their personal experiences to form rules or regulations that translate into step-by-step instructions for workers to follow. Disadvantages: Advantages of autocratic leadership style 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. The autocratic leadership style should not be used when: Employees become tense, fearful, or resentful Employees expect to have their opinions heard Employees begin depending on their manager to make all their decisions There is low employee morale, high turnover and absenteeism 2.1.1 Advantages of Autocratic Style of Leadership Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? This leadership style doesnt have a specific training forum to attend or require knowledge of a specific theory of leadership. Subordinates are expected to comply with orders from their supervisors, who in turn are expected to comply with orders from their superiors. Despite facing criticism, there are some tangible benefits that an autocratic leader brings to the company. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc. A review of the teams work falls on their shoulders. Most autocratic leaders will not take the opinions, experiences, or knowledge of their team members into account when making decisions. The advantages of Autocratic Leadership are: 1. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Autocratic leadership eliminates this issue because the command goes straight to the workers involved. An autocratic workplace environment is typically not friendly to innovation or outside-the-box thinking, and this can leave workers feeling intellectually stifled. - good style for meetings. 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. Autocratic leaders exercise absolute control over the team. They make the decision first and then announces it. 9. Autocratic leadership is suitable when the organization is small. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. Starting Business: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership, IPL.org: The Challenges of Autocratic Leadership Styles in Organizations and Individuals, Risk Vs. Autocratic leadership is very similar to the authoritarian leadership style. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. Autocracy has many benefits as well as some drawbacks. Autocratic leadership - Definition, Components, Advantage, Disadvantages. For long-term issues, the autocratic leader can direct traffic in specific ways with more efficiency than a C-Suite, creating solutions that can quickly move an organization out of a troublesome state. They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. 1. In time, this may result in fewer errors, which can provide a boost to revenues. "An organisation is only as good as the person running it". In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. Do you know why? Likewise, Leona Helmsley of the Helmsley hotel chain andMartha Stewart of MSLO are also considered to have exercised this type of leadership style. Boston Spa, Definition and Pros/Cons, Demings 14 Points For Quality Management [Explained], What is Deming Management? Therefore, they may not contribute to the team efforts as they should. 1. Answer (1 of 10): Before I begin, I also tried this type of leadership among newcomers in our Unit. support and direction. In many ways, it could be described as, Do it my way or go hit the highway. Workers get the job done, or else they go find a different job. This can be achieved by reviewing autocratic leadership examples. Many analysts argue that late Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Inc.), Elon Musk, and to some extent Bill Gates are autocratic leaders. Autocratic leadership can be defined as a leadership style where an individual leader holds the decision-making power over all organizational members and all activities. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. Essentially, no one will be confused about the direction of a company or even the specific assignment they are working on. Autocratic leadership, however, has. . Your email address will not be published. As such people working under autocratic leaders are supposed to accept the guidance or orders of their leader without any disagreement. Such a group process usually, takes a longer time to come to decision. Definition, Principles, Techniques, and Pros/Cons. When a leader is asked to operate in an authoritarian manner, it is difficult to turn that role on and off on-demand. Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. Because of the strict method in which employees are micromanaged, there is no room for flexibility within the work environment. Attner, R. and Plunkett, W. (1994) Introduction to management, 5th edition, California: Wadsworth, Inc. Murphy, M. (2019) Does anyone actually like autocratic leaders? This can be beneficial for organizations that need to maintain a strong sense of control and predictability. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. Many say the autocratic leadership style is unfit in todays business environment. Many companies tend to turn to an autocratic leadership style when they need to create short-term results in an urgent way. 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. It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. The autocratic leadership style means that the person in charge has the entire control upon all decision making. Autocratic leader This leader is given the power to make decisions alone, having total authority. They prefer to set their objectives, plan of action, processes and methods independently. Definitions of autocratic leadership style. The theory, which is generally linked with autocratic leadership, assumes employees don't like to work and tend to focus on fulfilling self-interests. Be able to think creatively to provide a vision for the company and solve problems Be calm under pressure and make clear decisions Possess excellent two-way communication skills Have the desire to achieve great things The employee doesnt have to worry about anything beyond performing their job duties properly, and for many employees, this is much less mentally taxing than an environment where they're expected to pitch ideas and weigh in on business strategies.