This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. Downsides of Autocratic Leadership While autocratic leadership can be beneficial at times, there are also many instances where this leadership style can be problematic. Every crisis or decision lies on their shoulders. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. Autocratic leaders do not take input from other members of a team in their decisions. To conclude, though autocratic leadership style has several disadvantages, it can be argued that there are some situations autocratic leadership style should yield better results for organisations. For that reason, some entities using this structure create an inheritance chain which allows another person to step into the leadership role right away. The leader is the only person to take the decision solely as they are in charge . * The leaders set rules, and systems for their team members. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. Workers are less likely to stop their projects or ask for later deadlines because they receive timely decisions and communication from their leadership. This is yet another of the several, advantages of autocratic leadership style. However, this does not mean you should be satisfied with your current self and avoid growth. 5. Both issues decrease worker morale and put blame on someone, even though the issue may not be their fault. Business, sports, politics, and many other fields have witnessed a great number of autocratic leaders throughout the history. Likewise, this style is also very effective when astringent synchronisation of processes is essential to productivity. 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. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership . Essentially, no one will be confused about the direction of a company or even the specific assignment they are working on. Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. But, this lacks in autocratic organizations. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. Whether this style makes a good leader has been a longstanding debate. For example, the team will have a clear vision of expectations and where their project and company is going. 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. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. for the employees, too. There are some work environments which require a high level of control. Advantages Quick decision making: This comes in handy when a leader is governing a small group or business. They may sometimes ask their team members to provide feedback, however, the feedback is highly unlikely to change the decisions. If there is a short-term problem, the expertise of the leader can be used to create a solution. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. 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. Unfortunately, they might not appreciate the advice of their team members. It is one of the biggest advantages of the autocratic leadership style. Autocracy Pros and Cons of Autocracy: Are There Reasons to Get a Grip? They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. In such organizations, employees are highly experienced and knowledgeable and they tend to work in a democratic environment instead of an autocratic environment. In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. 5. 2. 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. Some are encouraging and collaborative, while others are commanding and dominating. Many prime ministers and presidents around the world are also well-known for their autocratic style. That means workers who are highly skilled or motivated begin to lose their incentives to stay active under this leadership structure. If you know anything about democratic leadership, you will know that it sounds better than autocracy. Did you ever tell him about your awesome weekend? List of the Disadvantages of a Democratic Leadership Style. 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. Many companies tend to turn to an autocratic leadership style when they need to create short-term results in an urgent way. Due to this behaviour, the leader should yield the ultimate power and provide the employees with the motivation to work, i.e. So, there are advantages of the autocratic leadership style for the employees, too. 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. What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? When there are multiple levels of leadership within an organization, a command from the top becomes like a childhood game of Telephone. Because of poor coordination, low job satisfaction, low motivation, etc. However, according to Schaeffer (2002) autocratic leaders are not those who bully people needlessly. Leader Dependence. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pilihan pelajar terhadap aliran sains dan pola pilihan mengikut tahap kefahaman pengetahuan asas sains. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. Despite facing criticism, there are some tangible benefits that an autocratic leader brings to the company. After all, this is what good leadership is all about. 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. We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. A work environment where autocratic leadership style is exercised is usually not friendly to innovation or creative thinking. Autocratic leadership is defined by a top-down approach when it comes to all decision-making, procedures, and policies within an organization. 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. By the time the information reaches the front-line employees doing most of the work, the entire original message could be lost. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. 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. They can switch back to a more delegative approach as team members gain more experience. Advantages of Autocratic Leadership Quick Decision Making. 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. 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. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. To be a great authentic leader, you should accept yourself for who you truly are. What makes a good leader or manager? And they are accountable for the outcomes. List of Advantages of Autocracy Government 1. West Yorkshire, 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. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. 19 Autocratic Leadership Style Advantages and Disadvantages 7. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. The foundation of the autocratic leadership style is one built on mistrust. 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. Over time, however, this leadership style creates mistrust within the workplace. As such, between them, there is no communication and you know communication is a must for a healthy relationship. Autocratic leadership style ensures that a consistent message is sent from the centre to the employees at the bottom of the organisations. 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). So, what are the autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages? Likewise, Leona Helmsley of the Helmsley hotel chain andMartha Stewart of MSLO are also considered to have exercised this type of leadership style. The ultimate democratic system occurs when decisions are made based on the majority view of all workers. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. They can easily manage these issues because they're the only ones who get to call the shots. There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. More Cautious Pros of Autocracy The following sections below demonstrate. What Is Autocratic Leadership? - University of Phoenix 1. Autocratic leadership A leadership style in which leaders dictate without consultation of subordinates. Autocratic leadership, characterized by this centralized style of leadership, is an important concept in business, economics and politics. Autocratic leadership is . Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. It will also highlight team members that have strong creative skills and those that do not. php/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-autocratic- leadership-6069 Faster decision-making Read more about each of these advantages in detail in our separate post: Laissez-Faire Leadership Advantages. This style tends to decrease employee performance when additional duties are imposed on the employees without consultation. There are two reasons why the autocratic leadership style encourages an overall lack of accountability. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? 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. 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. Tel: +44 0844 800 0085. Employee morale can also be negatively affected when autocratic leadership is employed. Hence, he ensures that the products manufactured and services rendered meet the desired quality benchmarks. Analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style by examining examples of leaders and companies. There Is No Room for Flexibility. They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. Chapter 4 - Leadership Styles Flashcards | Quizlet Management & Leadership Styles | Autocratic, Democratic - YouTube As such, here, every employee is abiding by strict discipline. That means leaders using this style tend to be busier than other leaders. They arent required to wait for the feedback from senior managers or consult with a leadership team. These types of leaders are known as democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders, respectively. Pros of autocratic leadership All operations, methods, processes and delegations are decided by the autocratic leader and only by him. But, what is autocratic leadership? Autocracy in the workplace also results in high employee turnover. Pros One of the other notable cons of the autocratic leadership style is that there is a poor relationship between the leader and followers. Safety is a top priority within the autocratic leadership style. Managers with this type of leadership style, keep a close eye on what is happening in their organisations. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. Such leaders usually make decisions based on their own judgment and ideas. Productivity levels can see increases with this leadership style. 2. Because it is the autocratic leaders reputation on the line, not the worker doing the job, those in this type of position tend to supervise every small detail of the work being done. People who rely on this leadership style are often viewed as dictators or bossy. Autocratic Leadership and Democratic Leadership: Benefits and Disadvantages Autocratic leaders cant make trust a priority because they are forced to make the rules be the priority. 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages The following are the notable advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style in the workplace. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. PDF Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership pdf Autocratic leadership eradicates this confusion as the command goes straight to the people involved. When an autocratic leadership style is used in these situations, then the control the policies and procedures provide encourage a deeper commitment to safety. Bureaucratic Leadership - Definition, Advantages and Disadvantages Laissez-Faire Leadership: Definition, Examples, and Advantages In addition, normally, inexperienced employees are rules followers. This procedure often leads to the consistent delivery of projects and has a significant impact on the employees performance and productivity. Advantages of charismatic leadership style. Managers are interested in how happy workers feel and in many ways they act as a father figure (pater means father in Latin). What are the disadvantages of autocracy? - Sage-Advices Study Notes Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) Study Notes Leadership Topic Videos Leadership Styles: Blake Mouton Managerial Grid Topic Videos Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. Whether this style makes a good leader has been a longstanding debate. Open lines of communication ensure that everyone on the team is working toward the same goal. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. Pros and Cons of Autocracy | Indeed.com 1. They are the managerial equivalent of an emergency room surgeon who is forced to do whatever necessary to save a patients life. Though autocratic leadership style is often criticised, it is true that many historic autocratic leaders have been innovators who unleashed revolutions in different fields. Within autocratic structures, there may not be anyone who has the authority to make a rogue leader accountable to the company to stop their behavior. It allows for fast decisions to be made. 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. 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. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. The retention rate can increase 4. Such times require a leader with the ability to give instructions or guide and direct to those under his or her authority. Laissez-Faire Leadership Explained by a CEO. Pros/Cons, Examples It encourages a higher churn rate. There can be a lack of accountability within its structures. Do you have to be born with the correct qualities or can you be taught to be a good leader? Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. It gets even worse if workers can voice an opinion that is never utilized. There are many qualities that are needed to be a good leader or manager. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Autocratic Government 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. Moreover, they also like to enjoy the credit for the projects success, leaving the employees disheartened. This may make many employees feeling intellectually stifled. The employees have clear and strict job descriptions and know what to do and what is expected of them. 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. 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 However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. 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. 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. 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. Authoritative leaders are most consistent in their approaches and systems. 1. - encourages independence and creativity. Most autocratic leaders will not take the opinions, experiences, or knowledge of their team members into account when making decisions. The manager will however make the actual decisions (in the best interests of the workers) as they believe the staff still need direction and in this way it is still somewhat of an autocratic approach. 3. Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. They may also feel that the leadership does not care about their needs and desires which is unproductive for organisations. Many companies have been forced to completely reset their under-performing teams because the leadership in place formed the identity of everyone involved. 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. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. They use their personal experiences to form rules or regulations that translate into step-by-step instructions for workers to follow. In this type of leadership, the rules and procedures that teams use are quite rigid. The advantages and disadvantages below refer to autocracy in general, including the two types of autocracy as discussed above. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. December 28, 2021 by Raj Verdhan. This can mean the only employees who remain working with the company are unmotivated and even lazy individuals. Subordinates tend to shirk responsibility and initiative. Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. They just want to come to work, do what theyre told, then go home at the end of the day with a paycheck. Advantages. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. Leaders are of different types. Autocratic Leadership Pros and Cons (A Complete Guide) In time, this may result in fewer errors, which can provide a boost to revenues. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? Leadership Styles Advantages and Disadvantages . They are bound to follow whatever the leaders ask them. High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. 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.