advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership tutor2u advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership tutor2u

According to IPL.org, autocratic leadership is an extreme form of another kind of workplace leadership known as transactional leadership. As such, in autocratic leadership, faster decisions can be made. He has the sole authority to command, direct, and instruct all the team members. Despite facing criticism, there are some tangible benefits that an autocratic leader brings to the company. Autocratic leadership always encourages one-way communication to eliminate this problem. Autocratic leadership, however, has. 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. Most of the time Mr. Worth was absent from the rest of the employees, he communicated through his assistant. Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos Many analysists also argue that this style usually leads to an absence of creative solutions to problems, which may ultimately hurt the group efforts. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. in a time of crises). Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. Did you ever invite him for a drink? List of Advantages of Autocracy Government 1. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? Subordinates tend to shirk responsibility and initiative. Contrary to popular opinions, many organisations are well suited to the autocratic leadership type at some degree. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. - good style for meetings. There are fewer delays because best practices are being followed consistently. This leaves little room for miscommunication and messages getting lost in transit. It is one of the biggest advantages of the autocratic leadership style. Among all the recognized autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses, perhaps one of the most prominent is that this leadership style can cause employees to resent their leader and even their organization. And, you know discipline is the key to achieving something. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. Cons 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 Have the desire to achieve great things This helps to resolve the emergencies rather effectively when compared to other leadership styles. Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. 1. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. In . Leader Dependence. There is just one person in charge. Additionally, a leader like this improves workplace efficiency by instructing staff members on what to do and how to meet deadlines. All rights reserved LCHW. By the time the information reaches the front-line employees doing most of the work, the entire original message could be lost. Communication is the systematic process of passing information from one person to another. Autocratic leadership style works better in situations where swift decisions are needed. This working environment can leave employees feeling suppressed. The autocratic leadership style does a good job of facilitating this process. There can be a lack of accountability within its structures. Increased Work Burden Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. LS23 6AD It can be a joyless experience for team members. This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. That reduces the productivity available, and eventually leads to declining morale. 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. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. For employees, an environment where decision-making is solely the managers job can mean a relatively low stress environment. More Cautious 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 . Unlike, group decision-making the autocratic leader does not have to decide with his followers. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership . After all, this is what good leadership is all about. 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. The communication in the autocratic leadership can be considered as "one-way" ( the manager say . Disadvantages: Although some managers adopt democratic leadership, it is just to please their subordinates but they do not follow the technique fully. These were the autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. They know themselves very well and try to bring people together to achieve the organisational goals. Managers with this type of leadership style, keep a close eye on what is happening in their organisations. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. Definition, Principles, Techniques, and Pros/Cons. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. This allow for a quick turn-around of the issue, helping the company to begin pursuing its mission once again. When there are multiple levels of leadership within an organization, a command from the top becomes like a childhood game of Telephone. Each person benefits from the regulated competencies that are offered by the leader. They prefer to set their objectives, plan of action, processes and methods independently. What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? The ultimate democratic system occurs when decisions are made based on the majority view of all workers. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. An autocratic workplace environment is typically not friendly to innovation or outside-the-box thinking, and this can leave workers feeling intellectually stifled. 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. Management & Leadership Styles | Autocratic, Democratic, Paternalistic, Laissez- Faire and More Two Teachers 16K subscribers Subscribe 224 Share Save 27K views 3 years ago Business Studies Videos. Autocratic leadership is very similar to the authoritarian leadership style. If that leader goes away, then the team is unable to function because they were focused on their role. Do you have a team of inexperienced employees? 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. There is no doubting where fault lies of poor decisions. The leader is the only person to take the decision solely as they are in charge . 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. There Is No Room for Flexibility. Check out Harappas, Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. The leader does not have to deal with internal politics or disputes at the decision-making stage. This requires good two-way communication and often involves democratic discussion groups, which can offer useful suggestions and ideas. Although this kind of leadership can sound harsh at first, it can be very effective. can swiftly take the team out of trouble. That means workers tend to not take ownership of the work they do because there is no incentive to do so. For example, the team will have a clear vision of expectations and where their project and company is going. Most autocratic leaders do not consider the opinions or abilities of their staff members while making decisions. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. They can switch back to a more delegative approach as team members gain more experience. Employees who prefer some authority and decision-making powers in the team might not appreciate autocratic leadership. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. Each level of management can inadvertently (or purposely) put their own spin on the communication come from the leadership. 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. That is because there is one person and they are in charge of all arrangements. The lack of flexibility in environments headed by autocratic leaders can drive creative and motivated employees away. The following are some of the instances because of which autocratic leadership is not suitable. Autocratic leaders do not take input from other members of a team in their decisions. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. In fact, some characteristics of autocratic leadership can be considered advantages in some situations and drawbacks in others. Autocratic leaders cant make trust a priority because they are forced to make the rules be the priority. 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. 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 derives from the views of Taylor as to how to motivate workers and relates to McGregor's theory X view of workers. Autocratic leadership is . 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. It reduces the amount of group input received. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. That consistency leads toward corporate success. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. The Advantages of the Laissez-Faire Leadership Style Here is a list of the pros of the Laissez-Faire Leadership style: 1. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. 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. The following are the notable advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style in the workplace. That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way. Boston Spa, Only the leader will weigh the pros and cons of every option instead of the entire C-suite. Some are encouraging and collaborative, while others are commanding and dominating. Create a leadership learning plan. There are numerous autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses and sometimes, a characteristic thats a strength in one scenario is a weakness in another. They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. Removes employee stress. The second involves a leader refusing to take responsibility for work they personally instructed a worker to complete. They wont get blamed if it fails and they wont get credit if it succeeds. In the directing format, the subordinates of the leader are told what to do, how to do it, and when the deadline happens to be. 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. 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. Strict compliance becomes necessary. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership Quick Decision Making. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Downsides of Autocratic Leadership While autocratic leadership can be beneficial at times, there are also many instances where this leadership style can be problematic. Individual decision making: Less competent sub-managers can be used only to carry out the orders of the boss. They must make every decision for the team. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. 3. Autocratic leadership is a type of leadership that is individual-centric. December 28, 2021 by Raj Verdhan. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. Nevertheless, autocratic leadership is one of the least popular management styles and certainly not suitable for each organisation. 7. 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. And what are. One of the hallmarks of autocratic leadership is that the leader comes to his decisions quickly. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. What is the cons of autocratic leadership? The manager respects employees' insight and asks them to help make the best decision, and the team respects the leader's ability to ultimately make the right call after considering their viewpoints. Check out Harappas Inspiring Faculty Program and experience growth in your leadership now. It removes the pressure on the employees. Find out more. The theory, which is generally linked with autocratic leadership, assumes employees don't like to work and tend to focus on fulfilling self-interests. Because all decisions are made by the leader, a new leader must be brought in, which requires everyone to start from scratch. For example: When quick decisions are needed in a company (e.g. Your email address will not be published. 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. This is the foundation of a management style called transformational leadership, which pulls everyone in on major decisions, ensuring the entire team is personally invested in . Autocratic leadership is suitable when the organization is small. As such, between them, there is no communication and you know communication is a must for a healthy relationship. Although this form of leadership is often found within the government, it is also present in some corporate structures as well. These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. The leader defines goals and the limitations for action and then leaves the remaining process. Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. It is one of the best. 4. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. Decentralisation and Leadership Styles (AQA Paper 1 2019, Q20) Exam Support What is leadership? All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. An autocratic leader focuses less on collecting input from team members and tends to make executive decisions that others are expected to follow. Autocracy in the workplace also results in high employee turnover. 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. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? Communication is the systematic process of passing information from one person to another. "An organisation is only as good as the person running it". Succession planning can be defined asa business strategy organizations use to pass leadership roles down to another employee or group of employees. Definition and Pros/Cons, Demings 14 Points For Quality Management [Explained], What is Deming Management? Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. They must control the consistency at a personal level, which means they can no longer afford to give their team any freedom to operate. 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. While the advantages and disadvantages of leadership styles are not always readily apparent, one thing is certain - being decisive while avoiding autocratic leadership tactics is necessary for successful leaders and negotiators alike. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. This can be achieved by reviewing autocratic leadership examples. - increases employee satisfaction and motivation. Hence, he ensures that the products manufactured and services rendered meet the desired quality benchmarks. 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. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc. 1. The employees have clear and strict job descriptions and know what to do and what is expected of them. Dependent on the leader: Organizational success is entirely dependent on the leader and their ideas, which can endanger the stability of the organization. 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. These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. 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. Its main weakness is that it hinges heavily on the abilities and temperament of your employees. 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. St. Thomas University: What is Democratic/Participative Leadership? They are the managerial equivalent of an emergency room surgeon who is forced to do whatever necessary to save a patients life. 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. 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. When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. If you know anything about democratic leadership, you will know that it sounds better than autocracy. outline the advantages of this style, such as increased situational control, discipline over workers, short discussions, and group members knowing their roles and tasks. It is an easy way to cut through administrative red tape to ensure better communication to all workers. support and direction. Many prime ministers and presidents around the world are also well-known for their autocratic style.