That need is generated by an overall lack of trust. This is an advantage because team members can continue projects, move deadlines, and remove obstacles that could negatively impact their overall productivity. Nevertheless, autocratic leadership is one of the least popular management styles and certainly not suitable for each organisation. Most autocratic leaders do not consider the opinions or abilities of their staff members while making decisions. 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. Many companies have been forced to completely reset their under-performing teams because the leadership in place formed the identity of everyone involved. In workplaces where the employees are largely young and inexperienced, autocratic leadership can be the most effective approach. Their expertise becomes an asset to the company, even being able to fill-in during a shortfall to immediately correct a problem in virtually any situation. Autocratic leadership style is commonly associated with excessive employee turnover (employees leaving an organisation). 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. There are numerous autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses and sometimes, a characteristic thats a strength in one scenario is a weakness in another. Resulting in taking ideas and not implementing them. December 28, 2021 by Raj Verdhan. for the employees, too. This creates more speed, better productivity, and enhanced efficiencies within the workplace. One of the primary characteristics of autocratic leadership is a clearly defined chain of command. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. The Disadvantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership. 1. 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. If there is a short-term problem, the expertise of the leader can be used to create a solution. They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. Workers are forced to rely on the autocratic leader for all their feedback, instructions, and work duties. Second, autocratic leadership gives the leader an enormous amount of power in deciding how the team operates, but this also means increasing responsibility and accountability. Autocratic leadership, also known as authoritarian leadership, is a style of leadership characterized by direct, top-down communication and commands. 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. They use their personal experiences to form rules or regulations that translate into step-by-step instructions for workers to follow. This allow for a quick turn-around of the issue, helping the company to begin pursuing its mission once again. There are high levels of frustration often found in an autocratic environment, even if workers are inexperienced. The foundation of the autocratic leadership style is one built on mistrust. Low satisfaction also results in below performance than expectations. There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. If there isnt enough time to develop personal skills or learn something new, then autocratic leaders are still able to get the job done. - consultative although the manager will have the final say. Boston House, Such times require a leader with the ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. Likewise, Leona Helmsley of the Helmsley hotel chain andMartha Stewart of MSLO are also considered to have exercised this type of leadership style. The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. 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. Disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Benefits of autocratic leadership Here are some of the pros of an autocratic leadership approach. Advantages of autocratic leadership style. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. Cons of autocratic leadership. 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. - good style for meetings. 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. Autocratic leadership has a clearly defined chain of command. 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 helps to resolve the emergencies rather effectively when compared to other leadership styles. 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. It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. Understanding autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses can be easier when one understands exactly which kinds of behaviors constitute autocratic leadership. They may also feel that the leadership does not care about their needs and desires which is unproductive for organisations. However, according to Schaeffer (2002) autocratic leaders are not those who bully people needlessly. 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. Advantages The pros of this approach include: Decisions can be made rapidly which may keep the team agile and very quick to respond to challenges. 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. It creates moments of insecurity within the leadership. By the autocratic leadership principle, people who work in an autocratic organization or under an autocratic leader must accept the order, instruction, and command of the leader. 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. The retention rate can increase 4. They make the decision first and then announces it. ", 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. 1. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. The lack of flexibility in environments headed by autocratic leaders can drive creative and motivated employees away. 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. It will also highlight team members that have strong creative skills and those that do not. Analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style by examining examples of leaders and companies. More Cautious But that is not the case always, there are many instances when autocratic leadership has proved itself a desirable option in the organizational setting. Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. 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. Team members may have opportunities to provide feedback; however, their feedback is highly unlikely to change the course of action. Autocratic - cause frustration and resentment because the system is so dependent on the leader and because of the non-participation if workers . When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. This is yet another of the several advantages of autocratic leadership style. Because of the strict method in which employees are micromanaged, there is no room for flexibility within the work environment. Workers are less likely to stop their projects or ask for later deadlines because they receive timely decisions and communication from their leadership. All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. 7. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. When a company crisis occurs, a leader with authoritative traits can begin to call the shots to make immediate changes. Autocratic leaders are in charge and they make this fact known. Advantages. Additionally, a leader like this improves workplace efficiency by instructing staff members on what to do and how to meet deadlines. M Rahman writes extensively online and offline with an emphasis on business management, marketing, and tourism. It also explores the definitions of autocratic leadership style and provides the readers with a list of characteristics and examples of autocratic leaders from different fields. Autocratic leadership is a suitable option for small-sized organizations where a single leader can handle all the matters easily. Because all decisions are made by the leader, a new leader must be brought in, which requires everyone to start from scratch. Autocratic leadership style ensures that a consistent message is sent from the centre to the employees at the bottom of the organisations. They can replicate results because they are given specific instructions to follow. Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. 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. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. 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. autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages? The autocratic leadership style does a good job of facilitating this process. The Advantages of the Laissez-Faire Leadership Style Here is a list of the pros of the Laissez-Faire Leadership style: 1. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. As such, between them, there is no communication and you know communication is a must for a healthy relationship. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. Khan et al. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. Even if the leader is not knowledgeable in the area, they are forced into a position where they must decide. It is a leadership style that can be applied in three different ways. These were the autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. Often, autocratic leaders are referred to as micromanagers. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. 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. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. So, there are advantages of the autocratic leadership style for the employees, too. It may create an unwelcome culture within the organization. Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos The quality of a team, structure, or organization practicing autocratic leadership is dependent upon the ethics of the leader in charge. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. The cadets were fresh and were eager to learn, my Commanding Officer told me to do the "traditional" way of welcoming the cadets, this in fact is very beneficial to me and us because it instill dis. 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? That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way. Autocratic - quick decision making is guaranteed; Autocratic - good for inexperienced workers; . The autocratic leadership style means that the person in charge has the entire control upon all decision making. It is an easy way to cut through administrative red tape to ensure better communication to all workers. Laissez-Faire. 8. 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. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. Autocratic leadership is an exchange process, so it is a matter of contingent reinforcement of staff based on performances. * Very limited or no input at all from the subordinates. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. This can lead to burnout. VAT reg no 816865400. But rarely do employees know that there are several. They even need guidance and instruction on how to, to do the given jobs. But, the results always lead to corporate success. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. 8. A democratic style of management will put trust in employees and encourage them to make decisions. Contrary to popular opinions, many organisations are well suited to the autocratic leadership type at some degree. The laissez-faire or free reign leader scarcely provides direction to his team members. Team members have creative freedom 3. employees also do not show their commitment to the organizational purpose. This leaves little room for miscommunication and messages getting lost in transit. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. 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. One of the hallmarks of autocratic leadership is that the leader comes to his decisions quickly. The following are some of the instances because of which autocratic leadership is not suitable. All rights reserved LCHW. In autocratic organizations, there are clearly defined tasks, roles, rules, and deadlines to follow.