The leader defines goals and the limitations for action and then leaves the remaining process. There are two reasons why the autocratic leadership style encourages an overall lack of accountability. It can create negative emotions. 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. Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos The theory, which is generally linked with autocratic leadership, assumes employees don't like to work and tend to focus on fulfilling self-interests. This person: Assigns tasks Keeps everyone on deadline Focuses on the big picture Makes sure everyone contributes equally But, the results always lead to corporate success. It creates a lack of feedback. Therefore, leaders who exercise autocratic leadership should follow a balanced process to attain organizational objectives. 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? Autocratic leader This leader is given the power to make decisions alone, having total authority. 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 fact, some characteristics of autocratic leadership can be considered advantages in some situations and drawbacks in others. Workers can benefit from the competencies offered by their leader, replicating productivity by using the leaders knowledge and experience as a workplace asset. According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. Autocratic leaders are like the captain of the ship. If team members are unfamiliar with the process or tasks, leaders are better off taking a more hands-on approach. And what are autocratic leadership pros and cons? There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. 8. Inexperienced employees lack the ability to understand the outlined rules and regulations of the organization. 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. Autocratic leaders are often micromanagers. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. That creates a positive impact on the work environment, which leads to more accurate work and consistent production. Safeguarding Mental Health in the Gig Economy Strengths of Laissez-Faire Leaders 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 There Is No Room for Flexibility. In addition, in this style of leadership, managers don't take care of the opinions of their staff and ore not open to changes. That means the personal morality of the leader becomes the corporate reality of the business. According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. 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. These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. 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 generally believe that they are the smartest people around and know more than their subordinates. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. In . For that reason, some entities using this structure create an inheritance chain which allows another person to step into the leadership role right away. 2. 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. 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. She's no stranger to the wild ride that running a business can be, but that doesn't mean she's done learningevery day, it's something different when you're in the driver's seat. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. Advantages. Autocratic leaders take the pressure off of their teams because they are fully responsible for the decisions that are made. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. Managers deal with their employees in different ways. They use their personal experiences to form rules or regulations that translate into step-by-step instructions for workers to follow. Autocratic - cause frustration and resentment because the system is so dependent on the leader and because of the non-participation if workers . He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. Autocratic leadership refers to a form of leadership in which a leader takes choices without consulting others. Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. Autocratic leadership has a clearly defined chain of command. By the time the information reaches the front-line employees doing most of the work, the entire original message could be lost. Whatever approach is predominately used it will be vital to the success of the business. So, what are the autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages? Do you have to be born with the correct qualities or can you be taught to be a good leader? These benefits of autocratic leadership can swiftly take the team out of trouble. The democratic leadership style does solicit for opinions, perspectives, and experiences. All rights reserved LCHW. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. The communication in the autocratic leadership can be considered as "one-way" ( the manager say . . Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. Your email address will not be published. can swiftly take the team out of trouble. Leadership styles There are many ways to lead and every leader has his or her own style. Employees feel motivated and devote their maximum effort when they feel valued for their presence and contribution. The following are some of the pros of the autocratic leadership style: The autocratic leadership style facilitates quick decision-making in the workplace. Only the leader will weigh the pros and cons of every option instead of the entire C-suite. To be a great authentic leader, you should accept yourself for who you truly are. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. Increased Work Burden Task 2.3 - Comparison of leadership style Autocratic Leadership Style: Mr. Worth took on a more autocratic approach to leadership by operating his office from the top floor of the company, and rarely interacting with his employees. Attner, R. and Plunkett, W. (1994) Introduction to management, 5th edition, California: Wadsworth, Inc. Murphy, M. (2019) Does anyone actually like autocratic leaders? Rules are placed for employees to follow in an autocratic leadership style because there is a need to create consistency. Safety is a top priority within the autocratic leadership style. 6. They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. You may also like reading Advantages and disadvantages of private limited company. 3. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. 9. He has the sole authority to command, direct, and instruct all the team members. Autocracy has many benefits as well as some drawbacks. There can be a lack of accountability within its structures. The decision can be made faster with this leadership style. Communication is the systematic process of passing information from one person to another. They, therefore, make all the strategic decisions without any or extremely little inputs from the people who work under them. 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. 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. 2. People only thrive here is there is no investment in what they do. It is a leadership style that is based on a lack of trust. 3. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. So, there are advantages of the autocratic leadership style for the employees, too. The leader will need to create the system, with all the rules and procedures, in which the team uses to operate and reach goals. It can be a joyless experience for team members. Laissez-Faire. Autocratic leadership is one-directional, top-down leadership. Decentralisation and Leadership Styles (AQA Paper 1 2019, Q20) Exam Support What is leadership? The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. Autocratic Leadership. What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? An autocratic leadership style is similar to an authoritarian leadership style. It increases the work burden for the leader. When an autocratic leadership style is used in these situations, then the control the policies and procedures provide encourage a deeper commitment to safety. advantages of democratic leadership. Control in the group is minimal; authority is shared among members. Low satisfaction also results in below performance than expectations. For many it is someone who can inspire and get the most from their staff. 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. 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. and lack of staff initiative (2015). As with other leadership styles, there are autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages that can have a significant impact on a leader's employees . There is no doubting where fault lies of poor decisions. 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. They consult employees over issues and listen to their feedback or opinions. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership Quick Decision Making. When the autocratic leadership style is used with an inexperienced team, the experience of the leader can replace the skill gap that is present. Lindsay Kramer has been a small business owner since 2014. It may create an unwelcome culture within the organization. If the leader offers questionable ethics, however, and refuses to create fairness, then there is no one who can really hold that person accountable. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pilihan pelajar terhadap aliran sains dan pola pilihan mengikut tahap kefahaman pengetahuan asas sains. Do you know why? Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. 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. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. Boston Spa, Strict compliance becomes necessary. Many say the autocratic leadership style is unfit in todays business environment. 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. They just want to come to work, do what theyre told, then go home at the end of the day with a paycheck. Contrary to popular opinions, many organisations are well suited to the autocratic leadership type at some degree. Autocratic leadership is characterized by being highly structured and rigid style. Often, autocratic leaders are referred to as micromanagers. This style tends to decrease employee performance when additional duties are imposed on the employees without consultation. Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. Autocratic leaders do not take input from other members of a team in their decisions.