These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. Here are the top advantages of autocratic leadership: This leadership style enables quick decision-making, which is one of the most significant benefits of autocratic leadership. But rarely do employees know that there are several benefits of autocratic leadership. Although this kind of leadership can sound harsh at first, it can be very effective. Low satisfaction also results in below performance than expectations. 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. People only thrive here is there is no investment in what they do. 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. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. 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. Other relevant articles for you are: Advantages and disadvantages of digital marketing, Advantages and disadvantages of franchising. They can switch back to a more delegative approach as team members gain more experience. Authoritative leaders are most consistent in their approaches and systems. These were the autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. 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. They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. Because of the vertical or one-way communication channel subordinates do not get the opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts. . This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. They consult employees over issues and listen to their feedback or opinions. 1. 7. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. 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. 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. Definitions of autocratic leadership style. They arent required to wait for the feedback from senior managers or consult with a leadership team. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. 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. When the leaders are taking ownership for the quality of the completed work, there is no opportunity for team members to do so. Autocratic leaders do not take input from other members of a team in their decisions. 1. West Yorkshire, Leaders are of different types. This can lead to burnout. There are high levels of frustration often found in an autocratic environment, even if workers are inexperienced. And they are accountable for the outcomes. At times, the original instruction may get lost within complex and multiple channels of communication. Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos Managers deal with their employees in different ways. . Along with many advantages, the autocratic leadership style also has various disadvantages. She's no stranger to the wild ride that running a business can be, but that doesn't mean she's done learningevery day, it's something different when you're in the driver's seat. To be a great authentic leader, you should accept yourself for who you truly are. Explore Harappa Diaries to learn more about topics such as Advantages Of Autocratic Leadership, Difference Between Leaders And Dictators, Contingency Theory Of Leadership and Develop Good Leadership Qualities to advance in your career. The autocratic leadership style means that the person in charge has the entire control upon all decision making. But that is not the case always, there are many instances when autocratic leadership has proved itself a desirable option in the organizational setting. Motivation and reward for leaders Effective where a chain of command is crucial Organisational continuity is threatened in the absence of the leader . There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. Employees do not get recognition for their efforts. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. This approach derives from the views of Taylor as to how to motivate workers and relates to McGregor's theory X view of workers. St. Thomas University: What is Democratic/Participative Leadership? Autocratic leaders are in charge and they make this fact known. And they are accountable for the outcomes. If team members are unfamiliar with the process or tasks, leaders are better off taking a more hands-on approach. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. Removes employee stress. 3. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. There are two reasons why the autocratic leadership style encourages an overall lack of accountability. But, what is autocratic leadership? Autocratic leadership is very similar to the authoritarian leadership style. Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice. However, this does not mean you should be satisfied with your current self and avoid growth. Autocratic leadership involves absolute, authoritarian control over a group of people. The result is an unhappy workforce. Copyright 2017 2025. They can replicate results because they are given specific instructions to follow. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. Lindsay Kramer has been a small business owner since 2014. For employees, an environment where decision-making is solely the managers job can mean a relatively low stress environment. One of the primary characteristics of autocratic leadership is a clearly defined chain of command. It increases the work burden for the leader. Increased Work Burden 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. Autocracy in the workplace also results in high employee turnover. LS23 6AD Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. Rules are placed for employees to follow in an autocratic leadership style because there is a need to create consistency. Although this form of leadership is often found within the government, it is also present in some corporate structures as well. - There is a clear division between the followers and the leaders. Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. Laissez-Faire. Autocratic leaders are often charged with information movement. They make the decision first and then announces it. This leadership style can produce authoritative short-term results. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. Khan et al. 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. 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. Attner, R. and Plunkett, W. (1994) Introduction to management, 5th edition, California: Wadsworth, Inc. Murphy, M. (2019) Does anyone actually like autocratic leaders? Full potential of subordinates and their creative ideas are not utilized. There are some work environments which require a high level of control. support and direction. Definition and Pros/Cons, Demings 14 Points For Quality Management [Explained], What is Deming Management? Autocratic leadership is a suitable option for small-sized organizations where a single leader can handle all the matters easily. Because the leaders opinion is the only opinion that matters in terms of strategic planning and decision-making, employees can feel frustrated that they cannot work in ways that suit them. Only the leader will weigh the pros and cons of every option instead of the entire C-suite. Home Pros and Cons 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. Additionally, a leader like this improves workplace efficiency by instructing staff members on what to do and how to meet deadlines. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. They just want to come to work, do what theyre told, then go home at the end of the day with a paycheck. So, there are advantages of the autocratic leadership style for the employees, too. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. 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. 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. Whatever approach is predominately used it will be vital to the success of the business. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. Because of the strict method in which employees are micromanaged, there is no room for flexibility within the work environment.
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