M Rahman writes extensively online and offline with an emphasis on business management, marketing, and tourism. Provides a clear sense of direction Anyone who's worked on a class group project knows the value of having a leader. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. Characteristics of autocratic leadership style. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); At BokasTutor, We aim to provide easy and insightful explanations on different topics of disciplines like Management, Marketing, Finance, Business, and Entrepreneurship. The decision can be made faster with this leadership style. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice. Autocratic leadership is an exchange process, so it is a matter of contingent reinforcement of staff based on performances. More Cautious Advantages and Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership: The advantages of Autocratic leadership are that it allows for fast and effective decisions in a crisis situation, this is due to the ability of make quick decisions without having to discuss amongst team members which wastes valuable time. An autocratic workplace environment is typically not friendly to innovation or outside-the-box thinking, and this can leave workers feeling intellectually stifled. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. For employees, an environment where decision-making is solely the managers job can mean a relatively low stress environment. employees also do not show their commitment to the organizational purpose. Autocratic leadership is characterized by being highly structured and rigid style. There is no gray area for employee performance in this type of environment, which can be comforting for employees. In most autocratic leadership structures, the leader is responsible for every action of the team. . As such, between them, there is no communication and you know communication is a must for a healthy relationship. Autocratic leadership style works better in situations where swift decisions are needed. There are fewer delays because best practices are being followed consistently. Autocratic leadership - Definition, Components, Advantage, Disadvantages. Autocratic leaders are in charge and they make this fact known. When the leaders are taking ownership for the quality of the completed work, there is no opportunity for team members to do so. 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. Full potential of subordinates and their creative ideas are not utilized. The three commonly observed leadership . Autocratic leadership is one-directional, top-down leadership. Advantages Quick decision making: This comes in handy when a leader is governing a small group or business. This form serves well when the . Though autocratic leadership style is often criticised, it is true that many historic autocratic leaders have been innovators who unleashed revolutions in different fields. But that is not the case always, there are many instances when autocratic leadership has proved itself a desirable option in the organizational setting. Subordinates are expected to comply with orders from their supervisors, who in turn are expected to comply with orders from their superiors. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc. As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. In this kind of leadership mostly leader makes new contacts with outside people. Autocratic leaders exercise absolute control over the team. And they are accountable for the outcomes. 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. Over time, this makes employee morale begin to sink. Motivation and reward for leaders: It provides strong motivation and reward for the leader. 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. It is a leadership style that can be applied in three different ways. LS23 6AD Often, autocratic leaders are referred to as micromanagers. Control in the group is minimal; authority is shared among members. It also includes less feedback from the management levels. Attner, R. and Plunkett, W. (1994) Introduction to management, 5th edition, California: Wadsworth, Inc. Murphy, M. (2019) Does anyone actually like autocratic leaders? Authoritative leaders are most consistent in their approaches and systems. Autocratic leaders are often micromanagers. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. Pros of autocratic leadership Leadership styles There are many ways to lead and every leader has his or her own style. Communication is the systematic process of passing information from one person to another. Unfortunately, they might not appreciate the advice of their team members. Sources: 9. When controlling large numbers of low skilled workers. 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. In fact, some characteristics of autocratic leadership can be considered advantages in some situations and drawbacks in others. Managers do not trust workers and simply give orders (one-way communication) that they expect to be obeyed. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. Through goremotely.net, stats reveal that 78% of the employees want to quit their jobs due to lack of recognition. 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 leader does not have to deal with internal politics or disputes at the decision-making stage. 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. Autocratic leaders do not appreciate any inputs from their team members. One of the hallmarks of autocratic leadership is that the leader comes to his decisions quickly. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. The leader is the only person to take the decision solely as they are in charge . On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. This working environment can leave employees feeling suppressed. These. Answer (1 of 10): Before I begin, I also tried this type of leadership among newcomers in our Unit. This detailed article sheds light on some of the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. in a time of crises). Employees do not get recognition for their efforts. In addition, the leaders directly communicate to their followers where the work is to be done. This may make many employees feeling intellectually stifled. Boston Spa, ", 100 Best Side Hustles for Teens to Make Money, 10 Proven Psychological Pricing Strategies with Examples, 100 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know, 50 Best Business Letter Closings of All-Time. 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. Here are the pros and cons of autocracy: Pros of autocracy There are many benefits of autocracy, including: Increasing productivity: Autocracy can increase productivity, especially when subordinates don't have advanced skills or training yet. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. The first involves the work that gets done. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. 6. Although their primary aim should be to achieve business goals, as leaders, it is also their responsibility to add value to employees. High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. Autocratic leaders have the opportunity to take full control, responsibility and stress and build and maintain a productive operation. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. That means a decision is made on the timetable of the leader and no one else. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. 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 They use their personal experiences to form rules or regulations that translate into step-by-step instructions for workers to follow. To be a great authentic leader, you should accept yourself for who you truly are. 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 Despite facing criticism, there are some tangible benefits that an autocratic leader brings to the company. How Procedures Can Improve Efficiency, available at: https://online.stu.edu/articles/education/autocratic-leadership.aspx (accessed 06 April 2021). Hence, he ensures that the products manufactured and services rendered meet the desired quality benchmarks. And, you know discipline is the key to achieving something. Autocratic leader This leader is given the power to make decisions alone, having total authority. There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. 214 High Street, 1. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. Business english 13. Laissez-Faire. 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. Do you know why? And what are. Such leaders usually make decisions based on their own judgment and ideas. Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. Due to this behaviour, the leader should yield the ultimate power and provide the employees with the motivation to work, i.e. If the leader offers questionable ethics, however, and refuses to create fairness, then there is no one who can really hold that person accountable. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. 1. Workers can benefit from the competencies offered by their leader, replicating productivity by using the leaders knowledge and experience as a workplace asset. That means workers who are highly skilled or motivated begin to lose their incentives to stay active under this leadership structure. In time, this may result in fewer errors, which can provide a boost to revenues. - They are in complete . - There is a clear division between the followers and the leaders. Managers are interested in how happy workers feel and in many ways they act as a father figure (pater means father in Latin). Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. When the leader is the only person in the organization who makes decisions and determines the companys strategy, they can easily feel overwhelmed. You may also like reading Advantages and disadvantages of private limited company. Many analysts argue that late Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Inc.), Elon Musk, and to some extent Bill Gates are autocratic leaders. Copyright 2017 2025. Advantages of Bureaucratic Leadership Bureaucratic leadership works in so many ways0 Job security and results are both stable Favoritism is no longer a factor in the equation Roles, duties, and expectations are all evident A system of processes and rules that are extremely apparent creates a stronger level of job security Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Dependent on the leader: Organizational success is entirely dependent on the leader and their ideas, which can endanger the stability of the organization. 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? Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. Autocratic leadership A leadership style in which leaders dictate without consultation of subordinates. Open lines of communication ensure that everyone on the team is working toward the same goal. Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages: Advantages: It allows for fast decisions to be made: - An autocratic leadership includes fewer levels of administration levels that are to be informed. Each level of management can inadvertently (or purposely) put their own spin on the communication come from the leadership. Now that weve discussed several advantages of the autocratic leadership style, here come some disadvantages: One of the biggest disadvantages of exercising autocratic leadership is that it can result in low employee morale. Because this leadership creates a system of dependence. When a leader is asked to operate in an authoritarian manner, it is difficult to turn that role on and off on-demand. They just want to come to work, do what theyre told, then go home at the end of the day with a paycheck. In a system of dependence, an autocratic leadership style creates a lack of trust between you and your workers. Faster decision-making and quick information-sharing can help boost the teams productivity. 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. Business, sports, politics, and many other fields have witnessed a great number of autocratic leaders throughout the history. Definition, Features, Principles, and Cycle, What is TQM? At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. Unlike, group decision-making the autocratic leader does not have to decide with his followers. Because of poor coordination, low job satisfaction, low motivation, etc. 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. West Yorkshire, Some are encouraging and collaborative, while others are commanding and dominating. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. 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. One of the benefits of autocratic leadership is that it can help an inexperienced team achieve goals that they wouldn't be able to do alone. 4. When a team leaders style can be summarized with my way or the highway, that leader can accurately be called an autocrat. Understanding autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses can be easier when one understands exactly which kinds of behaviors constitute autocratic leadership. Essentially, no one will be confused about the direction of a company or even the specific assignment they are working on. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. Here, in the autocratic organization, there are fewer levels which reduces the challenges of poor communication that might be caused because of too many levels. The autocratic leadership style means that the person in charge has the entire control upon all decision making. Disadvantages of Autocratic or Authoritarian Leadership. It motivates staff by appealing to their personal desires and on instrumental economic transactions. By the time the information reaches the front-line employees doing most of the work, the entire original message could be lost. Autocratic leadership is very similar to the authoritarian leadership style. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. The retention rate can increase 4. Let's explore whether an autocratic leadership style is the right one for you: Benefits of Autocratic Leadership Style. - They don't have group members, they have followers. Removes employee stress. democratic leadership. Required fields are marked *. However, this leadership style become less effective in large organizations. Most autocratic leaders will not take the opinions, experiences, or knowledge of their team members into account when making decisions. This approach has limitations (as highlighted by other motivational theorists such as Mayo and Herzberg) but it can be effective in certain situations. Each person involved in autocratic organizations knows their position and role in achieving the desired target. Their expertise becomes an asset to the company, even being able to fill-in during a shortfall to immediately correct a problem in virtually any situation. Pros Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. This can mean the only employees who remain working with the company are unmotivated and even lazy individuals. - increases employee satisfaction and motivation. When there isnt enough time to learn something new or a project must be completed rapidly, this type of leadership is the best option. The first and foremost advantage of this type of leadership style is that it helps the company in making a quick decision as the decision is centralized with the leader. Autocratic leaders take the pressure off of their teams because they are fully responsible for the decisions that are made. Whatever approach is predominately used it will be vital to the success of the business. In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. advantages of democratic leadership. It will also highlight team members that have strong creative skills and those that do not. Professionals operating under this leadership can have lower confidence and slower decision-making skills. Resulting in taking ideas and not implementing them. 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. Many companies tend to turn to an autocratic leadership style when they need to create short-term results in an urgent way. As with other leadership styles, there are autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages that can have a significant impact on a leader's employees . Because of the vertical or one-way communication channel subordinates do not get the opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts. Check out Harappas Inspiring Faculty Program and experience growth in your leadership now. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. This system leaves the employees stress-free. 1. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. Each person benefits from the regulated competencies that are offered by the leader. Autocratic leadership eradicates this confusion as the command goes straight to the people involved. 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. There may be dangerous situations or working environments which require complicated tasks to be completed. Find out more. Analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style by examining examples of leaders and companies. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. Inexperienced employees lack the ability to understand the outlined rules and regulations of the organization. In addition, in this style of leadership, managers don't take care of the opinions of their staff and ore not open to changes. According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. Team members have creative freedom 3. Tel: +44 0844 800 0085. 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. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. 7. Disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. There are three main categories of leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. - good style for meetings. They must make every decision for the team. 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. These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Autocratic leadership is a type of leadership that is individual-centric. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. 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. Do you have to be born with the correct qualities or can you be taught to be a good leader? They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. Motivation and reward for leaders Effective where a chain of command is crucial Advantages and Disadvantages of the Autocratic Leadership, Poor Relationship Between the leader and Followers, Not Suitable for Large and Diversified Organizations, What is Organizational Change? When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. There are some work environments which require a high level of control. This lack of adaptability within your workforce can . It is one of the best. 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. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. Increased Work Burden Many say the autocratic leadership style is unfit in todays business environment. Organisational continuity is threatened in the absence of the leader . For example, the team will have a clear vision of expectations and where their project and company is going. Because of one-way communication and lack of recognition employees do not get the answers to the questions they deserve. 4. Team members may have opportunities to provide feedback; however, their feedback is highly unlikely to change the course of action. Most autocratic leaders do not consider the opinions or abilities of their staff members while making decisions. Did you ever tell him about your awesome weekend? However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. Strict compliance becomes necessary. But it becomes ineffective in large and diversified organizations. 8. VAT reg no 816865400. These were the autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. The result is an unhappy workforce. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. However, this is not feasible for the majority of decisions taken by a business- indeed one of the criticisms of this style is that it can take longer to reach a decision. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. 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. Only the leader will weigh the pros and cons of every option instead of the entire C-suite. 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. These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. 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. This leaves little room for miscommunication and messages getting lost in transit. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. A clear chain of command is important in certain environments, like the military. The advantages of Autocratic Leadership are: 1. How was that going for you? The result is a more consistent and accurate output. Managers must be willing to encourage leadership skills in subordinates. Because the leaders opinion is the only opinion that matters in terms of strategic planning and decision-making, employees can feel frustrated that they cannot work in ways that suit them.