We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Autocratic Leadership Did you ever tell him about your awesome weekend? Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. That means workers tend to not take ownership of the work they do because there is no incentive to do so. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The free reign approach can prove an effective type of leadership when the team has achieved identity and cohesion, resulting in motivated and resourceful team members. They must make every decision for the team. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. Safety is a top priority within the autocratic leadership style. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. So, what are the autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages? The following are the notable advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style in the workplace. Disadvantages of Autocratic or Authoritarian Leadership. Autocratic leaders generally believe that they are the smartest people around and know more than their subordinates. Team members may have opportunities to provide feedback; however, their feedback is highly unlikely to change the course of action. 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. Team members have creative freedom 3. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each leadership style That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way. So, there are advantages of the autocratic leadership style for the employees, too. Provides a clear sense of direction Anyone who's worked on a class group project knows the value of having a leader. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice. Required fields are marked *. It improves overall communication. The Disadvantages of Impulsive Management, Management Styles That Elevate vs. Devalue Employees. Subordinates tend to shirk responsibility and initiative. There is no gray area for employee performance in this type of environment, which can be comforting for employees. Autocratic - cause frustration and resentment because the system is so dependent on the leader and because of the non-participation if workers . The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. Business english 13. Attner, R. and Plunkett, W. (1994) Introduction to management, 5th edition, California: Wadsworth, Inc. Murphy, M. (2019) Does anyone actually like autocratic leaders? They can switch back to a more delegative approach as team members gain more experience. One of the hallmarks of autocratic leadership is that the leader comes to his decisions quickly. Succession planning can be defined asa business strategy organizations use to pass leadership roles down to another employee or group of employees. When there are multiple levels of leadership within an organization, a command from the top becomes like a childhood game of Telephone. 1. Characteristics of autocratic leadership style. Cons of autocratic leadership. As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. Management & Leadership Styles | Autocratic, Democratic - YouTube This approach derives from the views of Taylor as to how to motivate workers and relates to McGregor's theory X view of workers. Such times require a leader with the ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. Though autocratic leadership style is often criticised, it is true that many historic autocratic leaders have been innovators who unleashed revolutions in different fields. 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. The democratic leadership style does solicit for opinions, perspectives, and experiences. It can create negative emotions. When the leaders are taking ownership for the quality of the completed work, there is no opportunity for team members to do so. Individual decision making: Less competent sub-managers can be used only to carry out the orders of the boss. In fact, some characteristics of autocratic leadership can be considered advantages in some situations and drawbacks in others. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. Even workers who like to explore creative solutions dont mind an autocratic leader when they are allowed to pitch new ideas or offer an alternative decision based on their personal experience. 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. In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. List of the Advantages of the Autocratic Leadership Style 1. 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. Disadvantages: 2. Disadvantages. 2. Autocratic Leadership Pros and Cons (A Complete Guide) Whether this style makes a good leader has been a longstanding debate. Home Pros and Cons 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. When a leader is asked to operate in an authoritarian manner, it is difficult to turn that role on and off on-demand. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. Although creativity, independent thinking, and new processes are included as part of the overall leadership style, their implementation is not a top priority. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. But it becomes ineffective in large and diversified organizations. For example: When quick decisions are needed in a company (e.g. List of the Advantages of Autocratic Leadership 1. Understanding autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses can be easier when one understands exactly which kinds of behaviors constitute autocratic leadership. To be effective, people need to work in an environment where there is a trusting partnership. Under this type of leadership style there is no delay as the decision rests with a single authority and in times of crunch situation where a quick decision is needed . Copyright 2017 2025. Boston House, It is one of the biggest, advantages of the autocratic leadership style, Faster decision-making and quick information-sharing can help boost the teams productivity. 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 result is an unhappy workforce. 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. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc. Definition, Types, Reasons, and Ways To Overcome, What is Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle? can swiftly take the team out of trouble. A review of the teams work falls on their shoulders. - There is a clear division between the followers and the leaders. They use their personal experiences to form rules or regulations that translate into step-by-step instructions for workers to follow. There may be dangerous situations or working environments which require complicated tasks to be completed. In addition, in this style of leadership, managers don't take care of the opinions of their staff and ore not open to changes. Control in the group is minimal; authority is shared among members. Autocratic Leadership. It motivates staff by appealing to their personal desires and on instrumental economic transactions. Autocratic leadership has a clearly defined chain of command. Autocratic leaders are like the captain of the ship. Three leadership styles advantages and disadvantages - Medium List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. 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. Due to this behaviour, the leader should yield the ultimate power and provide the employees with the motivation to work, i.e. Advantages Quick decision making: This comes in handy when a leader is governing a small group or business. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. However, they describe the disadvantages of this style as promoting staff defiance, lack of free . In this type of leadership, the rules and procedures that teams use are quite rigid. There is no need to recognize emotions, respond to personal issues, or find other ways of motivation. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. Motivation and reward for leaders Effective where a chain of command is crucial Autocratic leadership, however, has. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. advantages of democratic leadership. It is one of the biggest advantages of the autocratic leadership style. Over time, this makes employee morale begin to sink. 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 is the cons of autocratic leadership? What is the disadvantages of autocratic? - Heimduo This lack of adaptability within your workforce can . In addition, the leaders directly communicate to their followers where the work is to be done. Such times require a leader with ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. Autocratic Leadership Style: Obstacle to Success in Academic Libraries All the standard operating procedures are also followed. For many it is someone who can inspire and get the most from their staff. Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more! Autocratic Leadership: 8 Advantages & 7 Disadvantages - BokasTutor Downsides of Autocratic Leadership While autocratic leadership can be beneficial at times, there are also many instances where this leadership style can be problematic. The lack of flexibility in environments headed by autocratic leaders can drive creative and motivated employees away. Employees feel motivated and devote their maximum effort when they feel valued for their presence and contribution. Because of the vertical or one-way communication channel subordinates do not get the opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts. It encourages a higher churn rate. 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. One of the primary characteristics of autocratic leadership is a clearly defined chain of command. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? advantages of the autocratic leadership style, autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. Pros and Cons of Autocracy | Indeed.com Laissez-Faire. Nevertheless, autocratic leadership is one of the least popular management styles and certainly not suitable for each organisation. A team can become so dependent upon the leader that they stop functioning when their directions are no longer present. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. They arent required to wait for the feedback from senior managers or consult with a leadership team. Your email address will not be published. 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. Resulting in taking ideas and not implementing them. Autocracy Pros and Cons of Autocracy: Are There Reasons to Get a Grip? Many say the autocratic leadership style is unfit in todays business environment. So, there are. The laissez-faire or free reign leader scarcely provides direction to his team members. Did you ever invite him for a drink? Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. The benefits and disadvantages of benevolent leadership 4. Autocratic leadership A leadership style in which leaders dictate without consultation of subordinates. That creates a positive impact on the work environment, which leads to more accurate work and consistent production. 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. All rights reserved LCHW. 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. It can be a joyless experience for team members. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. Decisions can be made faster with this leadership style. In such organizations, employees are highly experienced and knowledgeable and they tend to work in a democratic environment instead of an autocratic environment. Autocratic leadership eradicates this confusion as the command goes straight to the people involved. Because this leadership creates a system of dependence. Advantages and Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership Autocratic style leads to frustration, low morale and conflict among 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. 214 High Street, That consistency leads toward corporate success. Many prime ministers and presidents around the world are also well-known for their autocratic style. 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. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style This can be achieved by reviewing autocratic leadership examples. When a company crisis occurs, a leader with authoritative traits can begin to call the shots to make immediate changes. Sources: 9. Although their primary aim should be to achieve business goals, as leaders, it is also their responsibility to add value to employees. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. Although in authoritarian leadership, there is one-way communication there also exists effective communication. Many analysts argue that late Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Inc.), Elon Musk, and to some extent Bill Gates are autocratic leaders. It allows for fast decisions to be made. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. Autocratic leaders are typically trusted with decisions or important tasks. Autocratic Leadership | Characteristics, Advantages, Disadvantages Tel: +44 0844 800 0085. 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. Characteristics of autocratic leadership include: According to St. Thomas University, few famous autocratic leadership examples include: Like all other leadership styles, autocratic leadership has its advantages as well as its drawbacks. By the time the information reaches the front-line employees doing most of the work, the entire original message could be lost. Laissez-Faire Leadership: Definition, Examples, and Advantages St. Thomas University: What is Democratic/Participative Leadership? This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. 1. There can be a lack of accountability within its structures. In addition, normally, inexperienced employees are rules followers. This leadership style doesnt have a specific training forum to attend or require knowledge of a specific theory of leadership. They wont get blamed if it fails and they wont get credit if it succeeds. Because all decisions are made by the leader, a new leader must be brought in, which requires everyone to start from scratch. It is one of the best. It may impair the morale of the group. The quality of a team, structure, or organization practicing autocratic leadership is dependent upon the ethics of the leader in charge. The three commonly observed leadership . But, the results always lead to corporate success. Business, sports, politics, and many other fields have witnessed a great number of autocratic leaders throughout the history. Employee morale can also be negatively affected when autocratic leadership is employed. Autocratic Leadership: Characteristics, Pros, Cons, and Tips 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 You may also like reading Advantages and disadvantages of private limited company. It is a negative cycle which only increases when the leader makes a poor decision that could have been avoided if a team consultation occurred. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. Leadership Styles and Factors in Effective Staff Motivation Taylor Coft 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. When the autocratic leadership style is used with an inexperienced team, the experience of the leader can replace the skill gap that is present. A clear chain of command is important in certain environments, like the military. But, in an autocratic environment, there is no employee participation and their concerns are ignored. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. Characteristics Of An Autocratic Leadership Style | ipl.org They know themselves very well and try to bring people together to achieve the organisational goals. Each level of management can inadvertently (or purposely) put their own spin on the communication come from the leadership. The Disadvantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership. Autocratic leaders have the opportunity to take full control, responsibility and stress and build and maintain a productive operation. 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. The work culture is based solely on the ethics and morality of the leader, which means a poor working environment is not likely to change. Autocratic leadership style works better in situations where swift decisions are needed. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. 8. Autocratic leaders do not take input from other members of a team in their decisions. Bad leaders can put a company out of business. LS23 6AD That means a decision is made on the timetable of the leader and no one else. 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. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. List of Advantages of Autocracy Government 1. Company Reg no: 04489574. People who rely on this leadership style are often viewed as dictators or bossy. Advantages and disadvantages of charismatic leadership style But, what is autocratic leadership? Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. 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. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. Autocratic leadership involves absolute, authoritarian control over a group of people. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. 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. Disadvantages. Autocratic Leadership - Study.com What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? That reduces the productivity available, and eventually leads to declining morale. ", 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. Often, autocratic leaders are referred to as micromanagers. Second, autocratic leadership gives the leader an enormous amount of power in deciding how the team operates, but this also means increasing responsibility and accountability. 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. Advantages of autocratic leadership Quick Decisions Close Oversight Total Control Streamlined Work Process Easy to Learn The autocratic, or "do this or else," type of leadership is intuitive Good for Inexperienced or Unmotivated Workers./Bad for Highly Skilled and Motivated Workers. - good style for meetings. By providing clear instructions, oversight, and guidance, autocrats can speed up turnaround times and improve quality standards. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. Tannenbaum and Schmidt Leadership Continuum - Pros & Cons . That means workers who are highly skilled or motivated begin to lose their incentives to stay active under this leadership structure. 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. VAT reg no 816865400. What makes a good leader or manager? Low satisfaction also results in below performance than expectations. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. * Very limited or no input at all from the subordinates. The Mini Guide On Workplace Autocratic Leadership Style - Vantage Circle How was that going for you? In this kind of leadership mostly leader makes new contacts with outside people. They, therefore, make all the strategic decisions without any or extremely little inputs from the people who work under them. Leadership presentation - SlideShare This leadership style makes it difficult to correct poor results. Autocratic leader This leader is given the power to make decisions alone, having total authority. Explore Harappa Diaries to learn more about topics such as Advantages Of Autocratic Leadership, Difference Between Leaders And Dictators, Contingency Theory Of Leadership and Develop Good Leadership Qualities to advance in your career. In workplaces where the employees are largely young and inexperienced, autocratic leadership can be the most effective approach. What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? Paternalistic Leadership Guide: Definition, Qualities, Pros & Cons Autocratic leaders are able to handle a crisis situation easily because they are the ones who are in charge. It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. There Is No Room for Flexibility. It creates focused targets for everyone. Autocratic leaders do not appreciate any inputs from their team members. It creates moments of insecurity within the leadership. You must have seen people with varied working styles, ways of talking, and traits. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. Pros of autocratic leadership That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. M Rahman writes extensively online and offline with an emphasis on business management, marketing, and tourism. This can mean the only employees who remain working with the company are unmotivated and even lazy individuals. 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. 3. In autocratic organizations, there are clearly defined tasks, roles, rules, and deadlines to follow. If there isnt enough time to develop personal skills or learn something new, then autocratic leaders are still able to get the job done. This system leaves the employees stress-free. The competencies of the leader practicing autocratic leadership become the foundation for future success. As such, in autocratic leadership, faster decisions can be made. For employees, an environment where decision-making is solely the managers job can mean a relatively low stress environment.