When an autocratic leader becomes burnt out and cannot fulfill their duties, the rest of the team is often ill-equipped to step in and take the lead because they have never been in that position before. This style tends to decrease employee performance when additional duties are imposed on the employees without consultation. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. Boston Spa, For example, the team will have a clear vision of expectations and where their project and company is going. 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 8. Its main weakness is that it hinges heavily on the abilities and temperament of your employees. 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. Lindsay Kramer has been a small business owner since 2014. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. advantages of the autocratic leadership style, autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. It is a leadership style that is based on a lack of trust. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. The autocratic leadership style means that the person in charge has the entire control upon all decision making. Advantages of autocratic leadership style. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. 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. What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? This creates more speed, better productivity, and enhanced efficiencies within the workplace. This is yet another of the several, advantages of autocratic leadership style. Autocratic leadership always encourages one-way communication to eliminate this problem. Pros of autocratic leadership Contrast this with an autocratic leader, who does not ask their team for their input when making a decision. 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. Authoritative leaders are most consistent in their approaches and systems. Communication is the systematic process of passing information from one person to another. Workers are less likely to stop their projects or ask for later deadlines because they receive timely decisions and communication from their leadership. Autocratic leaders ignore the skills of competent workers. An autocratic leader focuses less on collecting input from team members and tends to make executive decisions that others are expected to follow. Charismatic leaders are usually adaptable and possess the power to make the followers feel comfortable with . Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. Find out more. Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. 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. Both issues decrease worker morale and put blame on someone, even though the issue may not be their fault. Advantages Quick decision making: This comes in handy when a leader is governing a small group or business. Instead of there being a democratic process for teams, there are no group positions of leadership with the autocratic style. When the autocratic leadership style is used with an inexperienced team, the experience of the leader can replace the skill gap that is present. It improves productivity. Definition, Types, Reasons, and Ways To Overcome, What is Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle? Definition, Principles, Techniques, and Pros/Cons. The autocratic leadership style does a good job of facilitating this process. It creates a lack of feedback. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. Each level of management can inadvertently (or purposely) put their own spin on the communication come from the leadership. - increases employee satisfaction and motivation. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. - good style for meetings. Understanding autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses can be easier when one understands exactly which kinds of behaviors constitute autocratic leadership. Autocratic leadership is . They arent required to wait for the feedback from senior managers or consult with a leadership team. Likewise, this style is also very effective when astringent synchronisation of processes is essential to productivity. This procedure often leads to the consistent delivery of projects and has a significant impact on the employees performance and productivity. The result is an unhappy workforce. To bring in information to the group members. It improves overall communication. The employees have clear and strict job descriptions and know what to do and what is expected of them. When a team leaders style can be summarized with my way or the highway, that leader can accurately be called an autocrat. Full potential of subordinates and their creative ideas are not utilized. Disadvantages. LS23 6AD However, according to Schaeffer (2002) autocratic leaders are not those who bully people needlessly. It is one of the best. can swiftly take the team out of trouble. An autocratic leader is not wishy-washy or passive aggressive; an autocratic leader makes expectations and the consequences for not meeting them clear from the outset. Autocratic leadership is characterized by being highly structured and rigid style. 1. Autocratic leadership, also known as authoritarian leadership, is a style of leadership characterized by direct, top-down communication and commands. This lack of adaptability within your workforce can . These benefits of autocratic leadership can swiftly take the team out of trouble. Definition and Pros/Cons, Demings 14 Points For Quality Management [Explained], What is Deming Management? Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. The Disadvantages of Impulsive Management, Management Styles That Elevate vs. Devalue Employees. It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. 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. You can be an authentic leader; you constantly grow and betters yourself. As such, between them, there is no communication and you know communication is a must for a healthy relationship. This person: Assigns tasks Keeps everyone on deadline Focuses on the big picture Makes sure everyone contributes equally The Disadvantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership. 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. There may be dangerous situations or working environments which require complicated tasks to be completed. As such, it becomes the right choice for employees who thrive when they are told what to do. The laissez-faire or free reign leader scarcely provides direction to his team members. There are some work environments which require a high level of control. They know themselves very well and try to bring people together to achieve the organisational goals. Definition, Features, Principles, and Cycle, What is TQM? Business, sports, politics, and many other fields have witnessed a great number of autocratic leaders throughout the history. 5. The second involves a leader refusing to take responsibility for work they personally instructed a worker to complete. Many companies have been forced to completely reset their under-performing teams because the leadership in place formed the identity of everyone involved. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. - consultative although the manager will have the final say. A review of the teams work falls on their shoulders. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc. They are the managerial equivalent of an emergency room surgeon who is forced to do whatever necessary to save a patients life. 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. This leadership style doesnt have a specific training forum to attend or require knowledge of a specific theory of leadership. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. Other relevant articles for you are: Advantages and disadvantages of digital marketing, Advantages and disadvantages of franchising. Motivation and reward for leaders: It provides strong motivation and reward for the leader. This leaves little room for miscommunication and messages getting lost in transit. Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. 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. Whether this style makes a good leader has been a longstanding debate. There is no need to recognize emotions, respond to personal issues, or find other ways of motivation. This allow for a quick turn-around of the issue, helping the company to begin pursuing its mission once again. Decisions can be made faster with this leadership style. 1. Experienced, skilled workers tend to do better in an environment where their leader asks for their input in decision-making or even leaves decision-making entirely up to them. What leads to a successful working relationship is an ability of workers to have trust in their leaders, and vice-versa. It means employees who are extremely skilled or motivated may begin to lose their incentives to stay active under the current leadership creating conflict in the organisations. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. Because of the too much rigidity in the structure, and low growth opportunities, most of the experienced employees tend to leave the autocratic organizations. Home Pros and Cons 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. Inexperienced teams can still produce experienced results. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. Everything rests with the leader. Quick decision: Quick decision making is guaranteed because a single person decides for the whole group. Leaders are of different types. They can replicate results because they are given specific instructions to follow. The first involves the work that gets done. 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? In addition, normally, inexperienced employees are rules followers. There are three main categories of leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. 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. Consequence in Leadership Styles, The Disadvantages of Emotional Leadership, Clear separation of leader and subordinate roles, Clearly defined performance expectations for all team members, Consequences for failure to comply with expectations, Specific processes for performing workplace tasks, Strict adherence to established rules and policies, Tom Petty, founder of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Helen Gurley Brown, former editor-in-chief of, Ridley Scott, critically acclaimed filmmaker, Vince Lombardi, former Green Bay Packers coach. Did you ever invite him for a drink? Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. 1. 3. 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. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Managers are interested in how happy workers feel and in many ways they act as a father figure (pater means father in Latin). If there isnt enough time to develop personal skills or learn something new, then autocratic leaders are still able to get the job done. Such a group process usually, takes a longer time to come to decision. People only thrive here is there is no investment in what they do. When a company crisis occurs, a leader with authoritative traits can begin to call the shots to make immediate changes. They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. If you liked any of these articles, please feel free to share with others by clicking on the social sharing icons. That is because there is one person and they are in charge of all arrangements. Many say the autocratic leadership style is unfit in todays business environment. It is an easy way to cut through administrative red tape to ensure better communication to all workers. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. 1. Autocratic leadership eradicates this confusion as the command goes straight to the people involved. It also creates hardships for the leader because they may get blamed for the actions of a worker when that worker was told to do something completely different. Therefore, they may not contribute to the team efforts as they should. High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. Faster Decision-making Proponents of this government form claim that having one ruler or person to decide on matters concerning a nation and without distractions and influences of others make it easier for the leader to make sound decisions he or she thinks works for the interest of the country. 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. In some situations, this leadership . Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. When there are multiple levels of leadership within an organization, a command from the top becomes like a childhood game of Telephone. 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. They may also feel that the leadership does not care about their needs and desires which is unproductive for organisations. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. 9. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. 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. Workers are forced to rely on the autocratic leader for all their feedback, instructions, and work duties. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. When an autocratic leader is consistent with their ethics and is determined to create a fair working environment, then there can be a lot of positives for workers in a company. Through close supervision and an emphasis on order and discipline, the autocratic leadership style allows everyone to focus on specific goals or targets to reach. Leaders are of different types. . So, there are advantages of the autocratic leadership style for the employees, too. . If there is a short-term problem, the expertise of the leader can be used to create a solution. This approach has limitations (as highlighted by other motivational theorists such as Mayo and Herzberg) but it can be effective in certain situations. 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. - encourages independence and creativity. 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. Leadership styles There are many ways to lead and every leader has his or her own style. These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. So, there are. When the leader is the only person in the organization who makes decisions and determines the companys strategy, they can easily feel overwhelmed. Such times require a leader with ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. And what are. There is just one person in charge. Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. It is a leadership style that is very easy to learn. While employees who need clear directive and feedback from their leader tend to do best under an autocrat, more experienced employees often do well in a more autonomous environment. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. 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. If the leader offers questionable ethics, however, and refuses to create fairness, then there is no one who can really hold that person accountable. 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. According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. and lack of staff initiative (2015). And they are accountable for the outcomes. 2. Autocratic leadership style works better in situations where swift decisions are needed. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more! Starting Business: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership, IPL.org: The Challenges of Autocratic Leadership Styles in Organizations and Individuals, Risk Vs. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. Autocratic leaders are typically trusted with decisions or important tasks. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. Autocratic leaders generally could use organizational . Autocratic leadership A leadership style in which leaders dictate without consultation of subordinates. 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. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. A clear chain of command is important in certain environments, like the military. We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. 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. As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. ? Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. When there isnt enough time to learn something new or a project must be completed rapidly, this type of leadership is the best option. They, therefore, make all the strategic decisions without any or extremely little inputs from the people who work under them. This may make many employees feeling intellectually stifled. Autocratic leadership Advantages And Disadvantages. 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. But rarely do employees know that there are several. in a time of crises). That creates a positive impact on the work environment, which leads to more accurate work and consistent production. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. Create a leadership learning plan. 4. But, the results always lead to corporate success. Company Reg no: 04489574. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. Many prime ministers and presidents around the world are also well-known for their autocratic style. The retention rate can increase 4. Subordinates tend to shirk responsibility and initiative. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. Autocratic leaders are able to handle a crisis situation easily because they are the ones who are in charge. Since autocratic leadership ensures clearly defined structures, it clearly states what to do and how to do it. 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. 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 leader will need to create the system, with all the rules and procedures, in which the team uses to operate and reach goals. In the paternalistic form, the core characteristics of this leadership style are used, with an added emphasis on worker wellbeing as part of the experience. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. The Advantages of the Laissez-Faire Leadership Style Here is a list of the pros of the Laissez-Faire Leadership style: 1. This is beneficial to reduce role ambiguity among the employees. However, this does not mean you should be satisfied with your current self and avoid growth. * Very limited or no input at all from the subordinates. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. All the standard operating procedures are also followed. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. One of the disadvantages of autocratic leadership is that it degrades the employees morale and motivation. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. Autocratic leadership refers to a form of leadership in which a leader takes choices without consulting others. They make the decision first and then announces it. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. 7. There is no doubting where fault lies of poor decisions. Likewise, Leona Helmsley of the Helmsley hotel chain andMartha Stewart of MSLO are also considered to have exercised this type of leadership style. Resulting in taking ideas and not implementing them. According to goremotley.net, around 83% of employers feel that it is crucial to create leaders at all levels. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. To be effective, people need to work in an environment where there is a trusting partnership. Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. An Autocratic or authoritarian leadership style will comprise of dictates and orders like telling aides what is to be done and how is something supposed to be done. They can easily manage these issues because they're the only ones who get to call the shots. St. Thomas University: What is Autocratic Leadership? Nevertheless, autocratic leadership is one of the least popular management styles and certainly not suitable for each organisation. This detailed article sheds light on some of the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Autocracy in the workplace also results in high employee turnover. When controlling large numbers of low skilled workers. This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. democratic leadership. Dependent on the leader: Organizational success is entirely dependent on the leader and their ideas, which can endanger the stability of the organization. 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. 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. The biggest problem is, no one talks about innovation and out-of-the-box ideas in this leadership style. The communication in the autocratic leadership can be considered as "one-way" ( the manager say . However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. This ensures that employees are exercising best of their abilities to get the job done, and time and other resources are not wasted. 3. The productivity levels may be higher, but with no say in the process, resentment will quickly build. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. Employees feel motivated and devote their maximum effort when they feel valued for their presence and contribution. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. It also includes less feedback from the management levels. Safety is a top priority within the autocratic leadership style. Such leaders usually make decisions based on their own judgment and ideas. They must control the consistency at a personal level, which means they can no longer afford to give their team any freedom to operate. Autocratic executives can affect more productive project completion since they spread information swiftly throughout a company. The leader does not have to deal with internal politics or disputes at the decision-making stage. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. This system leaves the employees stress-free. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. Pros of Autocracy The following sections below demonstrate. Because of one-way communication and lack of recognition employees do not get the answers to the questions they deserve. December 28, 2021 by Raj Verdhan. Leader Dependence. Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos Leadership is critical in a changing business environment, where small and medi um sized companie s operat e, and even more whe n changes are amplifie d by transformations of a whole economy, like . 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. Increased Work Burden What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. There can be a lack of accountability within its structures. In workplaces where the employees are largely young and inexperienced, autocratic leadership can be the most effective approach. In the permissive version, the autocratic leader still makes the final decision, but extends some flexibility to their direct reports in how tasks are completed. Individual decision making: Less competent sub-managers can be used only to carry out the orders of the boss. This helps to resolve the emergencies rather effectively when compared to other leadership styles. 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.