The second involves a leader refusing to take responsibility for work they personally instructed a worker to complete. outline the advantages of this style, such as increased situational control, discipline over workers, short discussions, and group members knowing their roles and tasks. The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. 7. Safeguarding Mental Health in the Gig Economy Strengths of Laissez-Faire Leaders Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos Key points of Advantages of autocratic leadership Highlights below: It allows for a fast decision to be made. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. 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. If that leader goes away, then the team is unable to function because they were focused on their role. Attner, R. and Plunkett, W. (1994) Introduction to management, 5th edition, California: Wadsworth, Inc. Murphy, M. (2019) Does anyone actually like autocratic leaders? Each person involved in autocratic organizations knows their position and role in achieving the desired target. Definition, Types, Reasons, and Ways To Overcome, What is Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle? Boston House, The following are some of the pros of the autocratic leadership style: The autocratic leadership style facilitates quick decision-making in the workplace. 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. Cons of autocratic leadership. 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 . Laissez-Faire. Both issues decrease worker morale and put blame on someone, even though the issue may not be their fault. In . Each person benefits from the regulated competencies that are offered by the leader. 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. Autocratic leaders are in charge and they make this fact known. People only thrive here is there is no investment in what they do. The autocratic leadership style does a good job of facilitating this process. The quality of a team, structure, or organization practicing autocratic leadership is dependent upon the ethics of the leader in charge. According to St. Thomas University, democratic leadership is defined by mutual respect between the manager and their team members. Removes employee stress. 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 idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pilihan pelajar terhadap aliran sains dan pola pilihan mengikut tahap kefahaman pengetahuan asas sains. 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. 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. In addition, normally, inexperienced employees are rules followers. Autocratic - quick decision making is guaranteed; Autocratic - good for inexperienced workers; . Since organisation is key to a well-operated business, autocratic leadership can prove useful in situations where the organisation could advance within the company. This requires good two-way communication and often involves democratic discussion groups, which can offer useful suggestions and ideas. can swiftly take the team out of trouble. Autocratic leadership is an exchange process, so it is a matter of contingent reinforcement of staff based on performances. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. 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. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. In autocratic organizations, there are clearly defined tasks, roles, rules, and deadlines to follow. Whatever approach is predominately used it will be vital to the success of the business. Only the leader will weigh the pros and cons of every option instead of the entire C-suite. Although this kind of leadership can sound harsh at first, it can be very effective. When a team leaders style can be summarized with my way or the highway, that leader can accurately be called an autocrat. ", 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. Autocratic leadership is a suitable option for small-sized organizations where a single leader can handle all the matters easily. There is no gray area for employee performance in this type of environment, which can be comforting for employees. Do you have a team of inexperienced employees? On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. List of the Advantages of Autocratic Leadership 1. Did you ever invite him for a drink? 1. High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. To be a great authentic leader, you should accept yourself for who you truly are. When there are multiple levels of leadership within an organization, a command from the top becomes like a childhood game of Telephone. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. That means a decision is made on the timetable of the leader and no one else. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. 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. But that is not the case always, there are many instances when autocratic leadership has proved itself a desirable option in the organizational setting. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. Lindsay Kramer has been a small business owner since 2014. 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 . If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. By the time the information reaches the front-line employees doing most of the work, the entire original message could be lost. 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. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. 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. It creates focused targets for everyone. 1. Autocratic leaders do not appreciate any inputs from their team members. If you liked any of these articles, please feel free to share with others by clicking on the social sharing icons. There can be a lack of accountability within its structures. Employees feel motivated and devote their maximum effort when they feel valued for their presence and contribution. 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. It reduces the amount of group input received. Its main weakness is that it hinges heavily on the abilities and temperament of your employees. Such a group process usually, takes a longer time to come to decision. Since autocratic leadership ensures clearly defined structures, it clearly states what to do and how to do it. Unfortunately, they might not appreciate the advice of their team members. 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. Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages: Advantages: It allows for fast decisions to be made: - An autocratic leadership includes fewer levels of administration levels that are to be informed. If you know anything about democratic leadership, you will know that it sounds better than autocracy. 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. Autocratic leadership always encourages one-way communication to eliminate this problem. The lack of flexibility in environments headed by autocratic leaders can drive creative and motivated employees away. 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. If there is a short-term problem, the expertise of the leader can be used to create a solution. Subordinates are expected to comply with orders from their supervisors, who in turn are expected to comply with orders from their superiors. In a system of dependence, an autocratic leadership style creates a lack of trust between you and your workers. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership Quick Decision Making. It gets even worse if workers can voice an opinion that is never utilized. Decentralisation and Leadership Styles (AQA Paper 1 2019, Q20) Exam Support What is leadership? The first involves the work that gets done. Hence, he ensures that the products manufactured and services rendered meet the desired quality benchmarks. There are high levels of frustration often found in an autocratic environment, even if workers are inexperienced. Low satisfaction also results in below performance than expectations. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. - consultative although the manager will have the final say. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. Most autocratic leaders do not consider the opinions or abilities of their staff members while making decisions. Autocratic leader This leader is given the power to make decisions alone, having total authority. 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. They must make every decision for the team. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? There is just one person in charge. However, they describe the disadvantages of this style as promoting staff defiance, lack of free . This detailed article sheds light on some of the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. It increases the work burden for the leader. 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. They wont get blamed if it fails and they wont get credit if it succeeds. 5. Autocratic leadership style ensures that a consistent message is sent from the centre to the employees at the bottom of the organisations. 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 This person: Assigns tasks Keeps everyone on deadline Focuses on the big picture Makes sure everyone contributes equally Although in authoritarian leadership, there is one-way communication there also exists effective communication. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. An autocratic leader focuses less on collecting input from team members and tends to make executive decisions that others are expected to follow. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership . Everything rests with the leader. On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. They just want to come to work, do what theyre told, then go home at the end of the day with a paycheck. That means the personal morality of the leader becomes the corporate reality of the business. 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. Home Pros and Cons 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. 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). and lack of staff initiative (2015). 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. Many companies have been forced to completely reset their under-performing teams because the leadership in place formed the identity of everyone involved. Degrades trust and morale: Autocratic leadership discourages input, which can make teams feel like their ideas are ignored and they're unable to contribute. But, the results always lead to corporate success. Check out Harappas, Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. Business english 13. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. 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. 8. Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages? Your email address will not be published. Let's explore whether an autocratic leadership style is the right one for you: Benefits of Autocratic Leadership Style. That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. Autocratic - cause frustration and resentment because the system is so dependent on the leader and because of the non-participation if workers . Resulting in taking ideas and not implementing them. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? Many analysists also argue that this style usually leads to an absence of creative solutions to problems, which may ultimately hurt the group efforts. LS23 6AD 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. There are numerous autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses and sometimes, a characteristic thats a strength in one scenario is a weakness in another. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. Leaders are of different types. 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. This lack of adaptability within your workforce can . Characteristics of autocratic leadership include: According to St. Thomas University, few famous autocratic leadership examples include: Like all other leadership styles, autocratic leadership has its advantages as well as its drawbacks. Some people dont like the idea of coming up with new ideas. 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. The employees have clear and strict job descriptions and know what to do and what is expected of them. It may impair the morale of the group. It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. Charismatic leaders are usually adaptable and possess the power to make the followers feel comfortable with . Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. What makes a good leader or manager? That means all creative decisions originate from the leader. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. That need is generated by an overall lack of trust. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. 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. 3. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. But, the results always lead to corporate success. 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. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. But, what is autocratic leadership? There are two reasons why the autocratic leadership style encourages an overall lack of accountability. It improves overall communication. 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. A work environment where autocratic leadership style is exercised is usually not friendly to innovation or creative thinking. There may be dangerous situations or working environments which require complicated tasks to be completed. Leaders are of different types. They arent required to wait for the feedback from senior managers or consult with a leadership team. The Disadvantages of Impulsive Management, Management Styles That Elevate vs. Devalue Employees. By providing clear instructions, oversight, and guidance, autocrats can speed up turnaround times and improve quality standards. - They are in complete . One of the primary characteristics of autocratic leadership is a clearly defined chain of command. Autocratic leadership is very similar to the authoritarian leadership style. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. Motivation and reward for leaders Effective where a chain of command is crucial But rarely do employees know that there are several benefits of autocratic leadership. When the leaders are taking ownership for the quality of the completed work, there is no opportunity for team members to do so. Managers do not trust workers and simply give orders (one-way communication) that they expect to be obeyed. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. Autocratic leadership is characterized by being highly structured and rigid style. This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. Analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style by examining examples of leaders and companies. employees also do not show their commitment to the organizational purpose. Likewise, this style is also very effective when astringent synchronisation of processes is essential to productivity. It improves productivity. Your email address will not be published. Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. Because this leadership creates a system of dependence. List of Advantages of Autocracy Government 1. 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. Understanding autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses can be easier when one understands exactly which kinds of behaviors constitute autocratic leadership. This procedure often leads to the consistent delivery of projects and has a significant impact on the employees performance and productivity. They make the decision first and then announces it. As such, it becomes the right choice for employees who thrive when they are told what to do. One of the hallmarks of autocratic leadership is that the leader comes to his decisions quickly. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. Managers are interested in how happy workers feel and in many ways they act as a father figure (pater means father in Latin). Humans are by nature different from each other; still, experts try to categorize them into various segments. Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. Additionally, a leader like this improves workplace efficiency by instructing staff members on what to do and how to meet deadlines. 214 High Street, There is no doubting where fault lies of poor decisions. Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. To be effective, the leader must be able to have proven competencies in their field, as they are responsible for making most of the decisions in the workplace. 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. What is the cons of autocratic leadership? The advantages and disadvantages below refer to autocracy in general, including the two types of autocracy as discussed above. Pros of autocratic leadership They consult employees over issues and listen to their feedback or opinions. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. Khan et al. That creates a positive impact on the work environment, which leads to more accurate work and consistent production. Both leadership styles are very well known and are often used due to . Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. In fact, some characteristics of autocratic leadership can be considered advantages in some situations and drawbacks in others. You may also like reading Advantages and disadvantages of private limited company. In high-pressure, high-stakes situations like buying and selling real estate, an autocratic leader who has the knowledge necessary to make profitable choices can be a companys greatest asset. Unlike, group decision-making the autocratic leader does not have to decide with his followers. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. Increased Work Burden That means workers tend to not take ownership of the work they do because there is no incentive to do so. Motivation and reward for leaders: It provides strong motivation and reward for the leader. However, this leadership style become less effective in large organizations. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. Disadvantages. As such, between them, there is no communication and you know communication is a must for a healthy relationship. Copyright 2017 2025. 3. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. Employee morale can also be negatively affected when autocratic leadership is employed. People who rely on this leadership style are often viewed as dictators or bossy. However, according to Schaeffer (2002) autocratic leaders are not those who bully people needlessly. And what are autocratic leadership pros and cons? This style has close links with Herzberg's motivators and Maslow's higher order skills and also applies to McGregor's theory Y view of workers. Such leaders usually make decisions based on their own judgment and ideas. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. It is one of the biggest advantages of the autocratic leadership style. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. 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. In some situations, this leadership . 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? Autocratic leaders generally could use organizational . Managers with this type of leadership style, keep a close eye on what is happening in their organisations. 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. Autocratic leaders do not take input from other members of a team in their decisions. Subordinates tend to shirk responsibility and initiative. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. Did you ever tell him about your awesome weekend? All rights reserved LCHW. According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. Faster decision-making Read more about each of these advantages in detail in our separate post: Laissez-Faire Leadership Advantages. Disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Leader Dependence. Autocratic leaders are like the captain of the ship. They are bound to follow whatever the leaders ask them. Through goremotely.net, stats reveal that 78% of the employees want to quit their jobs due to lack of recognition. 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. Rules are placed for employees to follow in an autocratic leadership style because there is a need to create consistency. The advantages of Autocratic Leadership are: 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. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership.