Since autocratic leadership ensures clearly defined structures, it clearly states what to do and how to do it. 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. 9. It is a leadership style that is very easy to learn. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. Low satisfaction also results in below performance than expectations. It will also highlight team members that have strong creative skills and those that do not. Succession planning can be defined asa business strategy organizations use to pass leadership roles down to another employee or group of employees. If you liked any of these articles, please feel free to share with others by clicking on the social sharing icons. 9. And what are. What makes a good leader or manager? One of the other notable cons of the autocratic leadership style is that there is a poor relationship between the leader and followers. In autocratic organizations, there are clearly defined tasks, roles, rules, and deadlines to follow. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. What leads to a successful working relationship is an ability of workers to have trust in their leaders, and vice-versa. 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. Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. When there isnt enough time to learn something new or a project must be completed rapidly, this type of leadership is the best option. This is beneficial to reduce role ambiguity among the employees. Disadvantages of Autocratic or Authoritarian Leadership. Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. This form serves well when the . 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. So, there are advantages of the autocratic leadership style for the employees, too. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. Decisions can be made faster with this leadership style. in a time of crises). Unfortunately, they might not appreciate the advice of their team members. In such organizations, employees are highly experienced and knowledgeable and they tend to work in a democratic environment instead of an autocratic environment. 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. A review of the teams work falls on their shoulders. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. 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. Because of poor coordination, low job satisfaction, low motivation, etc. Leadership styles There are many ways to lead and every leader has his or her own style. This leaves little room for miscommunication and messages getting lost in transit. Disadvantages: Although some managers adopt democratic leadership, it is just to please their subordinates but they do not follow the technique fully. 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. Professionals operating under this leadership can have lower confidence and slower decision-making skills. There are some work environments which require a high level of control. Laissez-Faire. St. Thomas University: What is Democratic/Participative Leadership? If an autocratic leader is put in charge of an inexperienced team, theyll be able to get the job done by outlining specific instructions to follow. Autocracy in the workplace also results in high employee turnover. This system leaves the employees stress-free. Some are strict with their staff and like to be in complete control, whilst others are more relaxed and allow workers the freedom to run their own working lives (just like the different approaches you may see in teachers!). You must have seen people with varied working styles, ways of talking, and traits. Autocratic leaders ignore the skills of competent workers. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. outline the advantages of this style, such as increased situational control, discipline over workers, short discussions, and group members knowing their roles and tasks. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. Contrary to popular opinions, many organisations are well suited to the autocratic leadership type at some degree. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice. Such leaders usually make decisions based on their own judgment and ideas. They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. But, this lacks in autocratic organizations. 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. 1. The quality of a team, structure, or organization practicing autocratic leadership is dependent upon the ethics of the leader in charge. Autocratic leadership style is commonly associated with excessive employee turnover (employees leaving an organisation). 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. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Required fields are marked *. If there is a short-term problem, the expertise of the leader can be used to create a solution. That means a decision is made on the timetable of the leader and no one else. This leadership style doesnt have a specific training forum to attend or require knowledge of a specific theory of leadership. The autocratic leadership style means that the person in charge has the entire control upon all decision making. It can create negative emotions. Subordinates tend to shirk responsibility and initiative. 2. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. They are bound to follow whatever the leaders ask them. Within autocratic structures, there may not be anyone who has the authority to make a rogue leader accountable to the company to stop their behavior. Autocratic leadership - Definition, Components, Advantage, Disadvantages. That means leaders using this style tend to be busier than other leaders. In this kind of leadership mostly leader makes new contacts with outside people. Quick decision: Quick decision making is guaranteed because a single person decides for the whole group. Did you ever tell him about your awesome weekend? 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 may create an unwelcome culture within the organization. 5. Whatever approach is predominately used it will be vital to the success of the business. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. Boston House, Create a leadership learning plan. Definition and Pros/Cons, Demings 14 Points For Quality Management [Explained], What is Deming Management? Resulting in taking ideas and not implementing them. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. 214 High Street, But, what is autocratic leadership? Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. One of the hallmarks of autocratic leadership is that the leader comes to his decisions quickly. Because of the too much rigidity in the structure, and low growth opportunities, most of the experienced employees tend to leave the autocratic organizations. Answer (1 of 10): Before I begin, I also tried this type of leadership among newcomers in our Unit. This creates more speed, better productivity, and enhanced efficiencies within the workplace. Leaders are of different types. Autocratic leadership is an exchange process, so it is a matter of contingent reinforcement of staff based on performances. When an autocratic leadership style is used in these situations, then the control the policies and procedures provide encourage a deeper commitment to safety. Autocratic leader This leader is given the power to make decisions alone, having total authority. 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. It gets even worse if workers can voice an opinion that is never utilized. . We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. 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? There is no gray area for employee performance in this type of environment, which can be comforting for employees. When controlling large numbers of low skilled workers. Team members have creative freedom 3. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. This ensures that employees are exercising best of their abilities to get the job done, and time and other resources are not wasted. According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. 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. 1. Other relevant articles for you are: Advantages and disadvantages of digital marketing, Advantages and disadvantages of franchising. Autocratic leadership is suitable when the organization is small. The biggest problem is, no one talks about innovation and out-of-the-box ideas in this leadership style. Only the leader will weigh the pros and cons of every option instead of the entire C-suite. This requires good two-way communication and often involves democratic discussion groups, which can offer useful suggestions and ideas. Authoritative leaders are most consistent in their approaches and systems. According to IPL.org, autocratic leadership is an extreme form of another kind of workplace leadership known as transactional leadership. Downsides of Autocratic Leadership While autocratic leadership can be beneficial at times, there are also many instances where this leadership style can be problematic. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership Quick Decision-Making Clearly Defined Structure Timely Work Completion Effective Communication Easy Acceptance Right for Inexperienced Employees Increased Efficiency and Productivity Suitable for Small Organizations Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership Less Morale and Motivation High Turnover Low Satisfaction Because autocratic leaders are able to move information throughout an organization quickly, there are fewer delays in productivity. For that reason, some entities using this structure create an inheritance chain which allows another person to step into the leadership role right away. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. In time, this may result in fewer errors, which can provide a boost to revenues. democratic leadership. 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. They are the managerial equivalent of an emergency room surgeon who is forced to do whatever necessary to save a patients life. 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. Business english 13. This allow for a quick turn-around of the issue, helping the company to begin pursuing its mission once again. Understanding autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses can be easier when one understands exactly which kinds of behaviors constitute autocratic leadership. Autocratic Leadership (Authoritarian): A leadership style in which an individual is in control of all the decisions and tasks and his/her "followers" have little to no say in the final decision. Autocratic leaders generally believe that they are the smartest people around and know more than their subordinates. Although creativity, independent thinking, and new processes are included as part of the overall leadership style, their implementation is not a top priority. 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 . Definitions of autocratic leadership style. As such, it becomes the right choice for employees who thrive when they are told what to do. The advantages of Autocratic Leadership are: 1. These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. Increased autonomy 2. Whether this style makes a good leader has been a longstanding debate. That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. However, this does not mean you should be satisfied with your current self and avoid growth. That reduces the productivity available, and eventually leads to declining morale. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. A democratic style of management will put trust in employees and encourage them to make decisions. 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. They consult employees over issues and listen to their feedback or opinions. . 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. Inexperienced employees lack the ability to understand the outlined rules and regulations of the organization. 1. 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Employees who prefer some authority and decision-making powers in the team might not appreciate autocratic leadership. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. Autocratic leaders are like the captain of the ship. Although this kind of leadership can sound harsh at first, it can be very effective. When there is clear direction, with a path toward success, offered to workers, then they are able to focus on productivity instead of problem solving. In the directing format, the subordinates of the leader are told what to do, how to do it, and when the deadline happens to be. The communication in the autocratic leadership can be considered as "one-way" ( the manager say . Despite facing criticism, there are some tangible benefits that an autocratic leader brings to the company. This leadership style can produce authoritative short-term results. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. The leader will need to create the system, with all the rules and procedures, in which the team uses to operate and reach goals. They can switch back to a more delegative approach as team members gain more experience. Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. List of the Advantages of the Autocratic Leadership Style 1. In addition, in this style of leadership, managers don't take care of the opinions of their staff and ore not open to changes. 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. There are two reasons why the autocratic leadership style encourages an overall lack of accountability. In a negative work environment, they also have the power to micromanage, enforce employee dependence, bully and generally mistreat their team. This leadership style makes it difficult to correct poor results. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership . "An organisation is only as good as the person running it". Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pilihan pelajar terhadap aliran sains dan pola pilihan mengikut tahap kefahaman pengetahuan asas sains. The foundation of the autocratic leadership style is one built on mistrust. The result is an unhappy workforce. This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. To be effective, people need to work in an environment where there is a trusting partnership. 4. St. Thomas University: What is Autocratic Leadership? Autocratic leaders are typically trusted with decisions or important tasks. 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. 6. Advantages. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. Pros of autocratic leadership Control in the group is minimal; authority is shared among members. 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. 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. But this might not be possible with an autocratic leadership style. 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 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 this type of leadership, the rules and procedures that teams use are quite rigid. An autocratic workplace environment is typically not friendly to innovation or outside-the-box thinking, and this can leave workers feeling intellectually stifled. ? Autocratic leadership, however, has. Its advantages are as follows: 1) An autocratic leader is in close control of the organization. Safeguarding Mental Health in the Gig Economy Strengths of Laissez-Faire Leaders It creates focused targets for everyone. Autocratic leadership is . Its main weakness is that it hinges heavily on the abilities and temperament of your employees. Through goremotely.net, stats reveal that 78% of the employees want to quit their jobs due to lack of recognition. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc. 5. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. Although the autocratic leadership style is often viewed as being a directive relationship between the leader and the team member, there are two other varieties found with this style. Some people dont like the idea of coming up with new ideas. Though autocratic leadership style is often criticised, it is true that many historic autocratic leaders have been innovators who unleashed revolutions in different fields. Autocratic leadership eradicates this confusion as the command goes straight to the people involved. That is because there is one person and they are in charge of all arrangements. These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. That means workers tend to not take ownership of the work they do because there is no incentive to do so. It is a leadership style that can be applied in three different ways. Autocratic leadership is characterized by being highly structured and rigid style. What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? Because of one-way communication and lack of recognition employees do not get the answers to the questions they deserve. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. With a clear corporate hierarchy in place, every member of the organization knows not only who they report to, but who their boss reports to. The ultimate democratic system occurs when decisions are made based on the majority view of all workers. Faster decision-making Read more about each of these advantages in detail in our separate post: Laissez-Faire Leadership Advantages. 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. - increases employee satisfaction and motivation. And they are accountable for the outcomes. - They don't have group members, they have followers. It encourages a higher churn rate. With little or no input by their subordinates, autocratic leaders are free to make decisions, define policies and direct work wherever they feel is most effective. - There is a clear division between the followers and the leaders. Find out more. It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. Each person involved in autocratic organizations knows their position and role in achieving the desired target. 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. 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. List of the Disadvantages of a Democratic Leadership Style. When a company crisis occurs, a leader with authoritative traits can begin to call the shots to make immediate changes. This approach derives from the views of Taylor as to how to motivate workers and relates to McGregor's theory X view of workers. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. The Advantages of the Laissez-Faire Leadership Style Here is a list of the pros of the Laissez-Faire Leadership style: 1. According to St. Thomas University, democratic leadership is defined by mutual respect between the manager and their team members. Faster decision-making and quick information-sharing can help boost the teams productivity. 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. 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 executives can affect more productive project completion since they spread information swiftly throughout a company.