Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. But, what is autocratic leadership? Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice. The productivity levels may be higher, but with no say in the process, resentment will quickly build. Autocratic leadership, however, has. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. These benefits of autocratic leadership can swiftly take the team out of trouble. Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. There are numerous autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses and sometimes, a characteristic thats a strength in one scenario is a weakness in another. 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. Strict compliance becomes necessary. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. And, you know discipline is the key to achieving something. - encourages independence and creativity. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. Autocratic leadership A leadership style in which leaders dictate without consultation of subordinates. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. How was that going for you? On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. Moreover, they also like to enjoy the credit for the projects success, leaving the employees disheartened. People who rely on this leadership style are often viewed as dictators or bossy. In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. To bring in information to the group members. West Yorkshire, It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. 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. Home Pros and Cons 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. 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. If team members are unfamiliar with the process or tasks, leaders are better off taking a more hands-on approach. The competencies of the leader practicing autocratic leadership become the foundation for future success. A work environment where autocratic leadership style is exercised is usually not friendly to innovation or creative thinking. List of the Advantages of the Autocratic Leadership Style 1. 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. It can be a joyless experience for team members. They consult employees over issues and listen to their feedback or opinions. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. 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. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. Consequence in Leadership Styles, The Disadvantages of Emotional Leadership, Clear separation of leader and subordinate roles, Clearly defined performance expectations for all team members, Consequences for failure to comply with expectations, Specific processes for performing workplace tasks, Strict adherence to established rules and policies, Tom Petty, founder of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Helen Gurley Brown, former editor-in-chief of, Ridley Scott, critically acclaimed filmmaker, Vince Lombardi, former Green Bay Packers coach. In autocratic organizations, there are clearly defined tasks, roles, rules, and deadlines to follow. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. More Cautious . There is nothing complicated about the 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. This can be beneficial for organizations that need to maintain a strong sense of control and predictability. Employees do not get recognition for their efforts. Nevertheless, autocratic leadership is one of the least popular management styles and certainly not suitable for each organisation. Contrary to popular opinions, many organisations are well suited to the autocratic leadership type at some degree. Autocratic leadership Advantages And Disadvantages. Autocratic leadership, however, has always been under the scanner. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. 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. The advantages and disadvantages below refer to autocracy in general, including the two types of autocracy as discussed above. It is one of the biggest advantages of the autocratic leadership style. They, therefore, make all the strategic decisions without any or extremely little inputs from the people who work under them. Autocratic leaders rely on specific rules, policies, and procedures to govern all processes within the workplace. The following are some of the pros of the autocratic leadership style: The autocratic leadership style facilitates quick decision-making in the workplace. The autocratic leadership style means that the person in charge has the entire control upon all decision making. Because of the too much rigidity in the structure, and low growth opportunities, most of the experienced employees tend to leave the autocratic organizations. 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. When this happens, productivity levels tend to decrease over time instead of increase. When a team leaders style can be summarized with my way or the highway, that leader can accurately be called an autocrat. 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. This approach has limitations (as highlighted by other motivational theorists such as Mayo and Herzberg) but it can be effective in certain situations. They are the managerial equivalent of an emergency room surgeon who is forced to do whatever necessary to save a patients life. They make the decision first and then announces it. That is because there is one person and they are in charge of all arrangements. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. Its advantages are as follows: 1) An autocratic leader is in close control of the organization. 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. These were the autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. Essentially, no one will be confused about the direction of a company or even the specific assignment they are working on. Team members may have opportunities to provide feedback; however, their feedback is highly unlikely to change the course of action. For that reason, some entities using this structure create an inheritance chain which allows another person to step into the leadership role right away. Likewise, Leona Helmsley of the Helmsley hotel chain andMartha Stewart of MSLO are also considered to have exercised this type of leadership style. Definition, Types, Reasons, and Ways To Overcome, What is Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle? Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. The Disadvantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership. But, in an autocratic environment, there is no employee participation and their concerns are ignored. Create a leadership learning plan. 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. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. Business english 13. Employee morale can also be negatively affected when autocratic leadership is employed. Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. employees also do not show their commitment to the organizational purpose. These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. This leaves little room for miscommunication and messages getting lost in transit. It improves productivity. Advantages of autocratic leadership Quick Decisions Close Oversight Total Control Streamlined Work Process Easy to Learn The autocratic, or "do this or else," type of leadership is intuitive Good for Inexperienced or Unmotivated Workers./Bad for Highly Skilled and Motivated Workers. These. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. This lack of adaptability within your workforce can . But it becomes ineffective in large and diversified organizations. This detailed article sheds light on some of the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. In such organizations, employees are highly experienced and knowledgeable and they tend to work in a democratic environment instead of an autocratic environment. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. 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. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. 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. Managers with this type of leadership style, keep a close eye on what is happening in their organisations. Decisions can be made faster with this leadership style. According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. 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. Despite facing criticism, there are some tangible benefits that an autocratic leader brings to the company. Autocratic leadership is one-directional, top-down leadership. Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more! Resulting in taking ideas and not implementing them. Autocratic leadership eliminates this issue because the command goes straight to the workers involved. The foundation of the autocratic leadership style is one built on mistrust. Even if the leader is not knowledgeable in the area, they are forced into a position where they must decide. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. Disadvantages. They can switch back to a more delegative approach as team members gain more experience. Autocratic leaders do not appreciate any inputs from their team members. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership . Lindsay Kramer has been a small business owner since 2014. 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. This system leaves the employees stress-free. Therefore, they may not contribute to the team efforts as they should. The leader will need to create the system, with all the rules and procedures, in which the team uses to operate and reach goals. This person: Assigns tasks Keeps everyone on deadline Focuses on the big picture Makes sure everyone contributes equally 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. 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. For long-term issues, the autocratic leader can direct traffic in specific ways with more efficiency than a C-Suite, creating solutions that can quickly move an organization out of a troublesome state. 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. By providing clear instructions, oversight, and guidance, autocrats can speed up turnaround times and improve quality standards. If the leader offers questionable ethics, however, and refuses to create fairness, then there is no one who can really hold that person accountable. 2. 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. Autocratic - quick decision making is guaranteed; Autocratic - good for inexperienced workers; . We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. Bad leaders can put a company out of business. 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. Each person involved in autocratic organizations knows their position and role in achieving the desired target. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. Because all decisions are made by the leader, a new leader must be brought in, which requires everyone to start from scratch. This can mean the only employees who remain working with the company are unmotivated and even lazy individuals. 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. 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. 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. Charismatic leaders are usually adaptable and possess the power to make the followers feel comfortable with . Autocracy has many benefits as well as some drawbacks. The three commonly observed leadership . However, this is not feasible for the majority of decisions taken by a business- indeed one of the criticisms of this style is that it can take longer to reach a decision. 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. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. Advantages of charismatic leadership style. Faster decision-making Read more about each of these advantages in detail in our separate post: Laissez-Faire Leadership Advantages. Your email address will not be published. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. And what are autocratic leadership pros and cons? Check out Harappas, Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. The retention rate can increase 4. Autocratic leaders have the opportunity to take full control, responsibility and stress and build and maintain a productive operation. Motivation and reward for leaders Effective where a chain of command is crucial When there isnt enough time to learn something new or a project must be completed rapidly, this type of leadership is the best option. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. List of the Disadvantages of a Democratic Leadership Style. They may also feel that the leadership does not care about their needs and desires which is unproductive for organisations. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. This form serves well when the . For employees, an environment where decision-making is solely the managers job can mean a relatively low stress environment. Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos One of the other notable cons of the autocratic leadership style is that there is a poor relationship between the leader and followers. Subordinates tend to shirk responsibility and initiative. The second involves a leader refusing to take responsibility for work they personally instructed a worker to complete. Degrades trust and morale: Autocratic leadership discourages input, which can make teams feel like their ideas are ignored and they're unable to contribute. It motivates staff by appealing to their personal desires and on instrumental economic transactions. Safeguarding Mental Health in the Gig Economy Strengths of Laissez-Faire Leaders Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. Disadvantages: Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. 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. - reduces staff turnover. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Autocracy: Leadership is a crucial talent that can be applied to any profession or career as the case may be, and there are several leadership styles to choose from. Under autocratic leaders, subordinates would fear due to demands and expectations. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. Since organisation is key to a well-operated business, autocratic leadership can prove useful in situations where the organisation could advance within the company. Employees who prefer some authority and decision-making powers in the team might not appreciate autocratic leadership. Dependent on the leader: Organizational success is entirely dependent on the leader and their ideas, which can endanger the stability of the organization. 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. That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. Increased Work Burden 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. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. 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. 5. This can lead to burnout. That means leaders using this style tend to be busier than other leaders. There Is No Room for Flexibility. Autocracy in the workplace also results in high employee turnover. The biggest problem is, no one talks about innovation and out-of-the-box ideas in this leadership style. The autocratic leadership style does a good job of facilitating this process. 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. According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. The autocratic leadership style is highly dependent upon the leader. As in an autocratic organization, a single leader is involved in decision-making, he makes decisions based on his own logic and judgment.