Such a group process usually, takes a longer time to come to decision. Leaders are of different types. Through goremotely.net, stats reveal that 78% of the employees want to quit their jobs due to lack of recognition. 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. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. 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. They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. In this article, we outline some essential, This leadership style enables quick decision-making, which is one of the most significant. 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. Instead of there being a democratic process for teams, there are no group positions of leadership with the autocratic style. This leaves little room for miscommunication and messages getting lost in transit. Even if the leader is not knowledgeable in the area, they are forced into a position where they must decide. Autocratic executives can affect more productive project completion since they spread information swiftly throughout a company. Charismatic leaders are usually adaptable and possess the power to make the followers feel comfortable with . 6. Each person benefits from the regulated competencies that are offered by the leader. In workplaces where the employees are largely young and inexperienced, autocratic leadership can be the most effective approach. Business english 13. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. Managers must be willing to encourage leadership skills in subordinates. It creates a lack of feedback. 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. 8. The competencies of the leader practicing autocratic leadership become the foundation for future success. Company Reg no: 04489574. The autocratic leadership style does a good job of facilitating this process. This detailed article sheds light on some of the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. 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. Such times require a leader with ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. It is one of the best. 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. 3. The result is an unhappy workforce. 5. Whether this style makes a good leader has been a longstanding debate. That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way. 8. 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. 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 . Copyright 2017 2025. Autocratic leadership style works better in situations where swift decisions are needed. 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. As such, in autocratic leadership, faster decisions can be made. Over time, this makes employee morale begin to sink. Since autocratic leadership ensures clearly defined structures, it clearly states what to do and how to do it. But rarely do employees know that there are several benefits of autocratic leadership. 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, Be well informed and knowledgeable about matters relating to the business. They wont get blamed if it fails and they wont get credit if it succeeds. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. Because of the vertical or one-way communication channel subordinates do not get the opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts. 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. Did you ever tell him about your awesome weekend? The Disadvantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership. - They don't have group members, they have followers. St. Thomas University: What is Autocratic Leadership? Lindsay Kramer has been a small business owner since 2014. An autocratic leader focuses less on collecting input from team members and tends to make executive decisions that others are expected to follow. A democratic style of management will put trust in employees and encourage them to make decisions. Autocratic leaders ignore the skills of competent workers. 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. 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. Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos An autocratic leadership style is similar to an authoritarian leadership style. 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. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. Analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style by examining examples of leaders and companies. A work environment where autocratic leadership style is exercised is usually not friendly to innovation or creative thinking. This is beneficial to reduce role ambiguity among the employees. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. But, this lacks in autocratic organizations. 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. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. That means workers tend to not take ownership of the work they do because there is no incentive to do so. Charismatic leaders usually display a great level of confidence to convince a large audience. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. Because of one-way communication and lack of recognition employees do not get the answers to the questions they deserve. 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. 9. 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. Likewise, Leona Helmsley of the Helmsley hotel chain andMartha Stewart of MSLO are also considered to have exercised this type of leadership style. 8. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. Due to this behaviour, the leader should yield the ultimate power and provide the employees with the motivation to work, i.e. 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. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. The leader is the only person to take the decision solely as they are in charge . As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. Advantages. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. It is one of the biggest advantages of the autocratic leadership style. 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. Nevertheless, autocratic leadership is one of the least popular management styles and certainly not suitable for each organisation. Autocratic leadership is . In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. For many it is someone who can inspire and get the most from their staff. Each level of management can inadvertently (or purposely) put their own spin on the communication come from the leadership. It can also mean workers personal needs are neglected, causing them to feel like their supervisor does not care about them as individuals. 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. 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. 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. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. Autocratic leaders cant make trust a priority because they are forced to make the rules be the priority. Although an autocratic leader can have a challenging personality, most employees prefer to work in an environment where there are clear expectations set for them. 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. There may be situations when leaders are less qualified than their subordinates. Likewise, this style is also very effective when astringent synchronisation of processes is essential to productivity. There may be dangerous situations or working environments which require complicated tasks to be completed. The productivity levels may be higher, but with no say in the process, resentment will quickly build. Managers are interested in how happy workers feel and in many ways they act as a father figure (pater means father in Latin). 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. 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 leadership style ensures that a consistent message is sent from the centre to the employees at the bottom of the organisations. Pros of Autocracy The following sections below demonstrate. And, you know discipline is the key to achieving something. They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. Increased Work Burden Employees feel motivated and devote their maximum effort when they feel valued for their presence and contribution. Autocratic leadership eliminates this issue because the command goes straight to the workers involved. How was that going for you? These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. There are numerous autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses and sometimes, a characteristic thats a strength in one scenario is a weakness in another. Leaders are of different types. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. Disadvantages of Autocratic or Authoritarian Leadership. 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 As such people working under autocratic leaders are supposed to accept the guidance or orders of their leader without any disagreement. Some people dont like the idea of coming up with new ideas. Autocratic leadership is a type of leadership that is individual-centric. In this kind of leadership mostly leader makes new contacts with outside people. Autocratic leadership Advantages And Disadvantages. - There is a clear division between the followers and the leaders. Here, in the autocratic organization, there are fewer levels which reduces the challenges of poor communication that might be caused because of too many levels. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. List of the Advantages of the Autocratic Leadership Style 1. It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. This form serves well when the . 10. 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 We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. In addition, in this style of leadership, managers don't take care of the opinions of their staff and ore not open to changes. 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. Sources: 9. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. In time, this may result in fewer errors, which can provide a boost to revenues. The Disadvantages of Impulsive Management, Management Styles That Elevate vs. Devalue Employees. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Such times require a leader with the ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. But, what is autocratic leadership? 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. 2. Benefits of autocratic leadership Here are some of the pros of an autocratic leadership approach. Organisational continuity is threatened in the absence of the leader . However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. 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. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. 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. Do you know why? Business, sports, politics, and many other fields have witnessed a great number of autocratic leaders throughout the history. Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. support and direction. 1. 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. Authoritative leaders are most consistent in their approaches and systems. When controlling large numbers of low skilled workers. 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. The foundation of the autocratic leadership style is one built on mistrust. Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. Autocratic leaders generally could use organizational . All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. There is no need to recognize emotions, respond to personal issues, or find other ways of motivation. Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership to consider. 214 High Street, Autocratic leadership always encourages one-way communication to eliminate this problem. It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. They are bound to follow whatever the leaders ask them. - increases employee satisfaction and motivation. This is yet another of the several, advantages of autocratic leadership style. 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. 7. Boston Spa, M Rahman writes extensively online and offline with an emphasis on business management, marketing, and tourism. If you know anything about democratic leadership, you will know that it sounds better than autocracy. Downsides of Autocratic Leadership While autocratic leadership can be beneficial at times, there are also many instances where this leadership style can be problematic. Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. There are high levels of frustration often found in an autocratic environment, even if workers are inexperienced. He has the sole authority to command, direct, and instruct all the team members. Disadvantages. 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. and lack of staff initiative (2015). It motivates staff by appealing to their personal desires and on instrumental economic transactions. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They can replicate results because they are given specific instructions to follow. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. Open lines of communication ensure that everyone on the team is working toward the same goal. 4. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. List of the Advantages of Autocratic Leadership 1. Most of the time Mr. Worth was absent from the rest of the employees, he communicated through his assistant. 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. According to IPL.org, autocratic leadership is an extreme form of another kind of workplace leadership known as transactional leadership. 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. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. In a negative work environment, they also have the power to micromanage, enforce employee dependence, bully and generally mistreat their team. In a system of dependence, an autocratic leadership style creates a lack of trust between you and your workers. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. 6. As with other leadership styles, there are autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages that can have a significant impact on a leader's employees . 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. 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. Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. They even need guidance and instruction on how to, to do the given jobs. 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). Autocratic leaders are in charge and they make this fact known. 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. Autocratic leadership, also known as authoritarian leadership, is a style of leadership characterized by direct, top-down communication and commands. It improves productivity. An autocratic. One of the other notable cons of the autocratic leadership style is that there is a poor relationship between the leader and followers. And what are. Autocratic leadership refers to a form of leadership in which a leader takes choices without consulting others. democratic leadership. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pilihan pelajar terhadap aliran sains dan pola pilihan mengikut tahap kefahaman pengetahuan asas sains. When a team leaders style can be summarized with my way or the highway, that leader can accurately be called an autocrat. This can mean the only employees who remain working with the company are unmotivated and even lazy individuals. 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. December 28, 2021 by Raj Verdhan. Check out Harappas, Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. Workers are less likely to stop their projects or ask for later deadlines because they receive timely decisions and communication from their leadership. Key points of Advantages of autocratic leadership Highlights below: It allows for a fast decision to be made. The democratic leadership style does solicit for opinions, perspectives, and experiences. Managers deal with their employees in different ways. Although creativity, independent thinking, and new processes are included as part of the overall leadership style, their implementation is not a top priority. That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. When an autocratic leader becomes burnt out and cannot fulfill their duties, the rest of the team is often ill-equipped to step in and take the lead because they have never been in that position before. Unlike, group decision-making the autocratic leader does not have to decide with his followers. 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 autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. In some situations, this leadership . As in an autocratic organization, a single leader is involved in decision-making, he makes decisions based on his own logic and judgment. 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. Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. It is an easy way to cut through administrative red tape to ensure better communication to all workers. Khan et al. Safety is a top priority within the autocratic leadership style. St. Thomas University: What is Democratic/Participative Leadership? Other relevant articles for you are: Advantages and disadvantages of digital marketing, Advantages and disadvantages of franchising. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. Your email address will not be published. There are two reasons why the autocratic leadership style encourages an overall lack of accountability. What is the cons of autocratic leadership? Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. The second involves a leader refusing to take responsibility for work they personally instructed a worker to complete. What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? In such organizations, employees are highly experienced and knowledgeable and they tend to work in a democratic environment instead of an autocratic environment. Autocratic leaders generally believe that they are the smartest people around and know more than their subordinates. Employees who prefer some authority and decision-making powers in the team might not appreciate autocratic leadership. It gets even worse if workers can voice an opinion that is never utilized. Put plainly, an autocratic leader is a leader who has total control over their jurisdiction and does not request or accept input from employees regarding their decisions. 1. This is an advantage because team members can continue projects, move deadlines, and remove obstacles that could negatively impact their overall productivity. Contrast this with an autocratic leader, who does not ask their team for their input when making a decision. People who rely on this leadership style are often viewed as dictators or bossy. Disadvantages. There are three main categories of leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. 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. But this might not be possible with an autocratic leadership style. They may also feel that the leadership does not care about their needs and desires which is unproductive for organisations. 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.