advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership tutor2u advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership tutor2u

Such times require a leader with ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. That consistency leads toward corporate success. 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. Even if the leader is not knowledgeable in the area, they are forced into a position where they must decide. Each person benefits from the regulated competencies that are offered by the leader. 3. This detailed article sheds light on some of the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. 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. List of the Advantages of Autocratic Leadership 1. Inexperienced employees generally need a lot of hands-on guidance from their supervisors to learn their roles, learn how to perform their job duties effectively and learn how to work well within the organization. Autocratic leaders do not appreciate any inputs from their team members. They can switch back to a more delegative approach as team members gain more experience. 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 . The lack of flexibility in environments headed by autocratic leaders can drive creative and motivated employees away. Autocratic leaders are like the captain of the ship. Many analysists also argue that this style usually leads to an absence of creative solutions to problems, which may ultimately hurt the group efforts. 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. 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. These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. The autocratic leadership style is highly dependent upon the leader. It creates focused targets for everyone. When controlling large numbers of low skilled workers. The communication in the autocratic leadership can be considered as "one-way" ( the manager say . SWOT Analysis of Kelloggs (Kellogg Company), https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2019/11/24/does-anyone-actually-like-autocratic-leaders-new-data-says-yes/?sh=bd0ef4e10de5, https://hbr.org/2002/10/the-leadership-journey. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. The quality of a team, structure, or organization practicing autocratic leadership is dependent upon the ethics of the leader in charge. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. Contrast this with an autocratic leader, who does not ask their team for their input when making a decision. 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. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. advantages of democratic leadership. - reduces staff turnover. Downsides of Autocratic Leadership While autocratic leadership can be beneficial at times, there are also many instances where this leadership style can be problematic. Disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. 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. Autocratic leadership eliminates this issue because the command goes straight to the workers involved. An autocratic leader focuses less on collecting input from team members and tends to make executive decisions that others are expected to follow. All rights reserved LCHW. Characteristics of autocratic leadership style. They make the decision first and then announces it. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. Everything rests with the leader. The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. To be effective, people need to work in an environment where there is a trusting partnership. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. Disadvantages. In other styles, there is a risk that by the time employees receive the message, the entire original message could be lost or there could be multiple interpretations of the message that create confusion. Subordinates are expected to comply with orders from their supervisors, who in turn are expected to comply with orders from their superiors. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. employees also do not show their commitment to the organizational purpose. Autocratic leadership is an exchange process, so it is a matter of contingent reinforcement of staff based on performances. The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. There are three main categories of leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. Charismatic leaders usually display a great level of confidence to convince a large audience. Organisational continuity is threatened in the absence of the leader . What leads to a successful working relationship is an ability of workers to have trust in their leaders, and vice-versa. When there isnt enough time to learn something new or a project must be completed rapidly, this type of leadership is the best option. But, what is autocratic leadership? According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. How was that going for you? For example: When quick decisions are needed in a company (e.g. Autocratic leadership style is commonly associated with excessive employee turnover (employees leaving an organisation). Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. Autocratic leadership is characterized by being highly structured and rigid style. It is one of the best. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. Autocratic leadership is one-directional, top-down leadership. So, what are the autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages? Increased autonomy 2. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Because of the strict method in which employees are micromanaged, there is no room for flexibility within the work environment. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. It improves productivity. High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. According to St. Thomas University, democratic leadership is defined by mutual respect between the manager and their team members. Employee morale can also be negatively affected when autocratic leadership is employed. 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. 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. You may also like reading Advantages and disadvantages of private limited company. But, the results always lead to corporate success. Find out more. That means workers tend to not take ownership of the work they do because there is no incentive to do so. The employees have clear and strict job descriptions and know what to do and what is expected of them. And what are. For leaders who don't care much about power and prefer to be appreciated by being of service to others, this is the main advantage. They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. * The leaders set rules, and systems for their team members. 6. 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. 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. - encourages independence and creativity. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. For example, a communication style that can be considered barking orders can be critical in high-stakes environments, like among paramedics, but destructive in collaborative environments like university departments. Advantages. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. Autocracy has many benefits as well as some drawbacks. 1. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. This procedure often leads to the consistent delivery of projects and has a significant impact on the employees performance and productivity. Authoritative leaders are most consistent in their approaches and systems. A team can become so dependent upon the leader that they stop functioning when their directions are no longer present. Autocratic leadership always encourages one-way communication to eliminate this problem. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. Leaders are of different types. List of the Disadvantages of a Democratic Leadership Style. This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. 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. It can be a joyless experience for team members. That means workers who are highly skilled or motivated begin to lose their incentives to stay active under this leadership structure. 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. The second involves a leader refusing to take responsibility for work they personally instructed a worker to complete. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. 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. Autocratic leaders have the opportunity to take full control, responsibility and stress and build and maintain a productive operation. Autocratic leaders tend to do well in these settings because they ensure that projects are finished on time and that workers follow safety rules to prevent accidents and injuries. Definition, Types, Reasons, and Ways To Overcome, What is Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle? Its advantages are as follows: 1) An autocratic leader is in close control of the organization. Check out Harappas Inspiring Faculty Program and experience growth in your leadership now. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. They wont get blamed if it fails and they wont get credit if it succeeds. Communication is the systematic process of passing information from one person to another. Advantages of autocratic leadership style. * Very limited or no input at all from the subordinates. 3. 214 High Street, Team members may have opportunities to provide feedback; however, their feedback is highly unlikely to change the course of action. Since organisation is key to a well-operated business, autocratic leadership can prove useful in situations where the organisation could advance within the company. 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 However, this leadership style become less effective in large organizations. 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. Although this form of leadership is often found within the government, it is also present in some corporate structures as well. It is one of the best advantages of autocratic leadership. For many it is someone who can inspire and get the most from their staff. The leader defines goals and the limitations for action and then leaves the remaining process. This can lead to burnout. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. 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. Autocratic - cause frustration and resentment because the system is so dependent on the leader and because of the non-participation if workers . This working environment can leave employees feeling suppressed. These environments allow for an error margin of zero. Motivation and reward for leaders: It provides strong motivation and reward for the leader. They can easily manage these issues because they're the only ones who get to call the shots. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. 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 such organizations, employees are highly experienced and knowledgeable and they tend to work in a democratic environment instead of an autocratic environment. Definition and Pros/Cons, Demings 14 Points For Quality Management [Explained], What is Deming Management? Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. Humans are by nature different from each other; still, experts try to categorize them into various segments. 1. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. They arent required to wait for the feedback from senior managers or consult with a leadership team. Autocratic leadership is suitable when the organization is small. The advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style show that it can be effective when an organization requires quick, accurate decisions from an experienced leader. The competencies of the leader practicing autocratic leadership become the foundation for future success. It reduces the amount of group input received. Sources: 9. There can be a lack of accountability within its structures. As such, in autocratic leadership, faster decisions can be made. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. 5. Only the leader will weigh the pros and cons of every option instead of the entire C-suite. Open lines of communication ensure that everyone on the team is working toward the same goal. Quick decision: Quick decision making is guaranteed because a single person decides for the whole group. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. 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 . Although their primary aim should be to achieve business goals, as leaders, it is also their responsibility to add value to employees. People who step out of this line are quickly identified and brought back into the fold. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. 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. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Definitions of autocratic leadership style. Most autocratic leaders will not take the opinions, experiences, or knowledge of their team members into account when making decisions. 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. Although in authoritarian leadership, there is one-way communication there also exists effective communication. Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. They must make every decision for the team. Advantages of autocratic leadership style 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. Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. Autocratic leaders generally could use organizational . Here are the top advantages of autocratic leadership: Faster Decision-making This leadership style enables quick decision-making, which is one of the most significant benefits of autocratic leadership. It allows for fast decisions to be made. 1. In this article, we outline some essential, This leadership style enables quick decision-making, which is one of the most significant. Inexperienced employees lack the ability to understand the outlined rules and regulations of the organization. The advantages of Autocratic Leadership are: 1. This helps to resolve the emergencies rather effectively when compared to other leadership styles. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. There are high levels of frustration often found in an autocratic environment, even if workers are inexperienced. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. This is beneficial to reduce role ambiguity among the employees. - good style for meetings. Autocratic Leadership. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. 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. Unfortunately, they might not appreciate the advice of their team members. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. Autocratic leadership always encourages one-way communication to eliminate this problem. The Disadvantages of Impulsive Management, Management Styles That Elevate vs. Devalue Employees. They consult employees over issues and listen to their feedback or opinions. 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. Business, sports, politics, and many other fields have witnessed a great number of autocratic leaders throughout the history. In this type of leadership, the rules and procedures that teams use are quite rigid. One of the other notable cons of the autocratic leadership style is that there is a poor relationship between the leader and followers. It may create an unwelcome culture within the organization. Benefits of autocratic leadership Here are some of the pros of an autocratic leadership approach. send our content editing team a message here, 11 Office Closed Due to Inclement Weather Messages, 50 Most Asked Nursing Interview Questions with Answers, 20 Best Answers to Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Job, 10 Best Answers to Why Do You Want to Be a Manager, 11 Best Answers to What Does Leadership Mean to You Interview Question, 50 Most Asked Front Desk Interview Questions with Answers, 10 Best Ways to Answer Sell Me This Pen in an Interview, 10 Most Asked Integrity Interview Questions with Answers, 25 Most Asked Confidentiality Interview Questions with Answers, 50 Most Asked Phone Interview Questions with Answers, 10 Best Answers to What Are Your Interests and Hobbies. Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. Over time, this makes employee morale begin to sink. There are fewer delays because best practices are being followed consistently. 9. Disadvantages: Autocratic leaders are typically trusted with decisions or important tasks. Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more! The ultimate democratic system occurs when decisions are made based on the majority view of all workers. If you know anything about democratic leadership, you will know that it sounds better than autocracy. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. That means the personal morality of the leader becomes the corporate reality of the business. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. 4. Autocratic leaders rely on specific rules, policies, and procedures to govern all processes within the workplace. 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. One of the greatest advantages to working with an autocratic leader is that the employee always knows whats expected and what will happen if they fail to perform as expected. As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. December 28, 2021 by Raj Verdhan. Autocratic leadership is a suitable option for small-sized organizations where a single leader can handle all the matters easily. Such times require a leader with the ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. Cons of autocratic leadership. Hence, he ensures that the products manufactured and services rendered meet the desired quality benchmarks. 1. VAT reg no 816865400. What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? As in an autocratic organization, a single leader is involved in decision-making, he makes decisions based on his own logic and judgment. It is an easy way to cut through administrative red tape to ensure better communication to all workers. Both leadership styles are very well known and are often used due to . M Rahman writes extensively online and offline with an emphasis on business management, marketing, and tourism. Charismatic leaders are usually adaptable and possess the power to make the followers feel comfortable with . 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. Each level of management can inadvertently (or purposely) put their own spin on the communication come from the leadership. While the advantages and disadvantages of leadership styles are not always readily apparent, one thing is certain - being decisive while avoiding autocratic leadership tactics is necessary for successful leaders and negotiators alike. Faster decision-making Read more about each of these advantages in detail in our separate post: Laissez-Faire Leadership Advantages. Whatever approach is predominately used it will be vital to the success of the business. Leaders must assume that their workers are not performing as they should, which requires their direct supervision to ensure results happen. in a time of crises). 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 following are some of the pros of the autocratic leadership style: The autocratic leadership style facilitates quick decision-making in the workplace.