Definition and Pros/Cons, Demings 14 Points For Quality Management [Explained], What is Deming Management? The leader does not have to deal with internal politics or disputes at the decision-making stage. So, there are. Autocratic style leads to frustration, low morale and conflict among subordinates. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. Definition, Types, Reasons, and Ways To Overcome, What is Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle? These benefits of autocratic leadership can swiftly take the team out of trouble. Some people dont like the idea of coming up with new ideas. Safety is a top priority within the autocratic leadership style. 3. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. By the time the information reaches the front-line employees doing most of the work, the entire original message could be lost. Because of the too much rigidity in the structure, and low growth opportunities, most of the experienced employees tend to leave the autocratic organizations. Because of poor coordination, low job satisfaction, low motivation, etc. This procedure often leads to the consistent delivery of projects and has a significant impact on the employees performance and productivity. 4. He has the sole authority to command, direct, and instruct all the team members. Because this leadership creates a system of dependence. 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. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. It removes the pressure on the employees. These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. What leads to a successful working relationship is an ability of workers to have trust in their leaders, and vice-versa. Decisions can be made faster with this leadership style. There are some work environments which require a high level of control. The employee doesnt have to worry about anything beyond performing their job duties properly, and for many employees, this is much less mentally taxing than an environment where they're expected to pitch ideas and weigh in on business strategies. Many prime ministers and presidents around the world are also well-known for their autocratic style. That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way. That means all creative decisions originate from the leader. You may also like reading Advantages and disadvantages of private limited company. Autocratic leaders are like the captain of the ship. Autocratic leaders are like the captain of the ship. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. The competencies of the leader practicing autocratic leadership become the foundation for future success. Understanding autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses can be easier when one understands exactly which kinds of behaviors constitute autocratic leadership. As with other leadership styles, there are autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages that can have a significant impact on a leader's employees . But that is not the case always, there are many instances when autocratic leadership has proved itself a desirable option in the organizational setting. Although this form of leadership is often found within the government, it is also present in some corporate structures as well. Disadvantages. Succession planning can be defined asa business strategy organizations use to pass leadership roles down to another employee or group of employees. This approach derives from the views of Taylor as to how to motivate workers and relates to McGregor's theory X view of workers. People who step out of this line are quickly identified and brought back into the fold. Khan et al. Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. This is the foundation of a management style called transformational leadership, which pulls everyone in on major decisions, ensuring the entire team is personally invested in . Decentralisation and Leadership Styles (AQA Paper 1 2019, Q20) Exam Support What is leadership? Boston House, This ensures that employees are exercising best of their abilities to get the job done, and time and other resources are not wasted. Some are encouraging and collaborative, while others are commanding and dominating. An autocratic leader makes decisions and communicates them on time, making sure that the team has all the information they need to finish the project on schedule. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. Even if low-skill tasks need to get done, it is the leaders responsibility to make sure someone makes copies, gets coffee, or files documents properly. Likewise, this style is also very effective when astringent synchronisation of processes is essential to productivity. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. Quick decision: Quick decision making is guaranteed because a single person decides for the whole group. That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. Contrast this with an autocratic leader, who does not ask their team for their input when making a decision. This helps to resolve the emergencies rather effectively when compared to other leadership styles. But, the results always lead to corporate success. Autocratic leadership refers to a form of leadership in which a leader takes choices without consulting others. This is an advantage because team members can continue projects, move deadlines, and remove obstacles that could negatively impact their overall productivity. Do you know why? In addition, the leaders directly communicate to their followers where the work is to be done. Cons of autocratic leadership. The retention rate can increase 4. That means leaders using this style tend to be busier than other leaders. This is because they do not consult any other members of their team, so they dont have to wait for other opinions or work through different perspectives to find an appropriate compromise. Business english 13. Its main weakness is that it hinges heavily on the abilities and temperament of your employees. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. Business, sports, politics, and many other fields have witnessed a great number of autocratic leaders throughout the history. Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. Professionals operating under this leadership can have lower confidence and slower decision-making skills. They prefer to set their objectives, plan of action, processes and methods independently. This leadership style can produce authoritative short-term results. 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. Most of the time Mr. Worth was absent from the rest of the employees, he communicated through his assistant. 2. They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. Autocracy has many benefits as well as some drawbacks. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. Charismatic leaders usually display a great level of confidence to convince a large audience. Its advantages are as follows: 1) An autocratic leader is in close control of the organization. Both issues decrease worker morale and put blame on someone, even though the issue may not be their fault. However, according to Schaeffer (2002) autocratic leaders are not those who bully people needlessly. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Autocratic leadership is very similar to the authoritarian leadership style. Strict compliance becomes necessary. Company Reg no: 04489574. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. It improves productivity. Managers must be willing to encourage leadership skills in subordinates. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. 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. When a team leaders style can be summarized with my way or the highway, that leader can accurately be called an autocrat. 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. Autocratic leadership - Definition, Components, Advantage, Disadvantages. 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. 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. This improves the speed of decisions because only one person is weighing the pros and cons of each choice, not a C-Suite. Essentially, no one will be confused about the direction of a company or even the specific assignment they are working on. Autocratic leadership involves absolute, authoritarian control over a group of people. This can mean the only employees who remain working with the company are unmotivated and even lazy individuals. Autocratic leaders exercise absolute control over the team. What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? Key points of Advantages of autocratic leadership Highlights below: It allows for a fast decision to be made. 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. Autocratic (or authoritarian) managers like to make all the important decisions and closely supervise and control workers. They can replicate results because they are given specific instructions to follow. Pros of autocratic leadership That makes it almost impossible for leaders to leave the workplace, as workers can become so dependent on their decision-making abilities that nothing gets done if the leader is not present for some reason. List of the Disadvantages of a Democratic Leadership Style. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. 3. In a negative work environment, they also have the power to micromanage, enforce employee dependence, bully and generally mistreat their team. Autocratic leadership eradicates this confusion as the command goes straight to the people involved. Although creativity, independent thinking, and new processes are included as part of the overall leadership style, their implementation is not a top priority. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. Now that weve discussed several advantages of the autocratic leadership style, here come some disadvantages: One of the biggest disadvantages of exercising autocratic leadership is that it can result in low employee morale. ? 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. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. 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. Often, autocratic leaders are referred to as micromanagers. A work environment where autocratic leadership style is exercised is usually not friendly to innovation or creative thinking. A democratic style of management will put trust in employees and encourage them to make decisions. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. Even if the leader is not knowledgeable in the area, they are forced into a position where they must decide. If team members are unfamiliar with the process or tasks, leaders are better off taking a more hands-on approach. Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership to consider. An autocratic leadership style is similar to an authoritarian leadership style. This detailed article sheds light on some of the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Although in authoritarian leadership, there is one-way communication there also exists effective communication. 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. And they are accountable for the outcomes. In some situations, this leadership . ", 100 Best Side Hustles for Teens to Make Money, 10 Proven Psychological Pricing Strategies with Examples, 100 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know, 50 Best Business Letter Closings of All-Time. That means the personal morality of the leader becomes the corporate reality of the business. Likewise, as an autocratic leader is not necessarily the same as being a fascist, there are people with certain personalities, who may indeed work well under this type of leadership style (Murphy, 2019). But, what is autocratic leadership? 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. They may also feel that the leadership does not care about their needs and desires which is unproductive for organisations. employees also do not show their commitment to the organizational purpose. 1. And what are. Autocratic leaders do not appreciate any inputs from their team members. 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. The advantages and disadvantages below refer to autocracy in general, including the two types of autocracy as discussed above. Inexperienced teams can still produce experienced results. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. One of the disadvantages of autocratic leadership is that it degrades the employees morale and motivation. Through goremotely.net, stats reveal that 78% of the employees want to quit their jobs due to lack of recognition. Leader Dependence. 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. When this happens, productivity levels tend to decrease over time instead of increase. The communication in the autocratic leadership can be considered as "one-way" ( the manager say . 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. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership Quick Decision Making. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. The productivity levels may be higher, but with no say in the process, resentment will quickly build. "An organisation is only as good as the person running it". For example, the team will have a clear vision of expectations and where their project and company is going. In autocratic organizations, there are clearly defined tasks, roles, rules, and deadlines to follow. Autocratic leadership has a clearly defined chain of command. When there isnt enough time to learn something new or a project must be completed rapidly, this type of leadership is the best option. All rights reserved LCHW. Check out Harappas, Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. It is an easy way to cut through administrative red tape to ensure better communication to all workers. If that leader goes away, then the team is unable to function because they were focused on their role. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. If there isnt enough time to develop personal skills or learn something new, then autocratic leaders are still able to get the job done. However, this does not mean you should be satisfied with your current self and avoid growth. That means workers who are highly skilled or motivated begin to lose their incentives to stay active under this leadership structure. 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. Definitions of autocratic leadership style. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. The ultimate democratic system occurs when decisions are made based on the majority view of all workers. Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. Since organisation is key to a well-operated business, autocratic leadership can prove useful in situations where the organisation could advance within the company. Leaders are of different types. 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. St. Thomas University: What is Autocratic Leadership? - There is a clear division between the followers and the leaders. Provides a clear sense of direction Anyone who's worked on a class group project knows the value of having a leader. The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. These. As such, in autocratic leadership, faster decisions can be made. Workers are less likely to stop their projects or ask for later deadlines because they receive timely decisions and communication from their leadership. 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 . Required fields are marked *. They must make every decision for the team. One of the primary reasons why the autocratic leadership style tends to fail is because it is fully dependent upon the skills and knowledge of the leader. Pros of Autocracy The following sections below demonstrate. But, this lacks in autocratic organizations. The advantages of Autocratic Leadership are: 1. As such, between them, there is no communication and you know communication is a must for a healthy relationship. When there are multiple levels of leadership within an organization, a command from the top becomes like a childhood game of Telephone. This person: Assigns tasks Keeps everyone on deadline Focuses on the big picture Makes sure everyone contributes equally It motivates staff by appealing to their personal desires and on instrumental economic transactions. 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. List of the Advantages of the Autocratic Leadership Style 1. 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. The theory, which is generally linked with autocratic leadership, assumes employees don't like to work and tend to focus on fulfilling self-interests. They make the decision first and then announces it. 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 There is just one person in charge. Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos When the leaders are taking ownership for the quality of the completed work, there is no opportunity for team members to do so. For many it is someone who can inspire and get the most from their staff. There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. Your email address will not be published. St. Thomas University: What is Democratic/Participative Leadership? Many companies tend to turn to an autocratic leadership style when they need to create short-term results in an urgent way. Disadvantages. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. The following are the notable advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style in the workplace. - good style for meetings. Since autocratic leadership ensures clearly defined structures, it clearly states what to do and how to do it. When the leader is the only person in the organization who makes decisions and determines the companys strategy, they can easily feel overwhelmed. But, what is autocratic leadership? Leaders are of different types. Managers with this type of leadership style, keep a close eye on what is happening in their organisations. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. 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? They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. 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. There Is No Room for Flexibility. Over time, this makes employee morale begin to sink. Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. 6. Degrades trust and morale: Autocratic leadership discourages input, which can make teams feel like their ideas are ignored and they're unable to contribute. outline the advantages of this style, such as increased situational control, discipline over workers, short discussions, and group members knowing their roles and tasks.

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