Organisational continuity is threatened in the absence of the leader . 6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Autocracy Government And, you know discipline is the key to achieving something. Paternalistic Leadership Guide: Definition, Qualities, Pros & Cons Most autocratic leaders will not take the opinions, experiences, or knowledge of their team members into account when making decisions. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc. Faster decision-making is the key to attaining organizational goals. 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. Likewise, it is also very useful when organisations face constant change or a crisis. Quick decision: Quick decision making is guaranteed because a single person decides for the whole group. Since organisation is key to a well-operated business, autocratic leadership can prove useful in situations where the organisation could advance within the company. The Pros and Cons of Laissez-Faire Leadership | SB - Starting Business Autocratic leadership is a suitable option for small-sized organizations where a single leader can handle all the matters easily. Over time, this makes employee morale begin to sink. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each leadership style Autocratic leadership - Definition, Components, Advantage, Disadvantages. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. Cons of autocratic leadership. 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. Pros 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 . Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. Your email address will not be published. (PDF) Democratic or Autocratic Leadership Style? Participative ? The employees have clear and strict job descriptions and know what to do and what is expected of them. Likewise, Leona Helmsley of the Helmsley hotel chain andMartha Stewart of MSLO are also considered to have exercised this type of leadership style. When the leaders are taking ownership for the quality of the completed work, there is no opportunity for team members to do so. One of the primary reasons why the autocratic leadership style tends to fail is because it is fully dependent upon the skills and knowledge of the leader. In, laissez-faire leadership leader gives all power to his subordinates to act on their own. Autocratic Leadership Advantages And Disadvantages - Harappa One of the benefits of autocratic leadership is that it can help an inexperienced team achieve goals that they wouldn't be able to do alone. He has the sole authority to command, direct, and instruct all the team members. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. 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. LS23 6AD Copyright 2017 2025. The retention rate can increase 4. Workers are forced to rely on the autocratic leader for all their feedback, instructions, and work duties. Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice. Some are collaborative and inspiring, while some are authoritative and controlling. Leaders must assume that their workers are not performing as they should, which requires their direct supervision to ensure results happen. 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. Managers must be willing to encourage leadership skills in subordinates. 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. On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. It may impair the morale of the group. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership In time, this may result in fewer errors, which can provide a boost to revenues. When a team leaders style can be summarized with my way or the highway, that leader can accurately be called an autocrat. 1. 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. Their expertise and experience can solve short-term issues. Tannenbaum and Schmidt Leadership Continuum - Pros & Cons 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. Autocratic Leadership - Study.com 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 . These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. The Disadvantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership. To bring in information to the group members. Autocratic leadership | Business | tutor2u High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. The benefits and disadvantages of benevolent leadership Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. It can create negative emotions. It improves productivity. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. 10. What is the disadvantages of autocratic? - Heimduo 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. 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. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. Because of one-way communication and lack of recognition employees do not get the answers to the questions they deserve. For many it is someone who can inspire and get the most from their staff. Whether this style makes a good leader has been a longstanding debate. 1. Autocratic leadership is a type of leadership that is individual-centric. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. 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 . As with other leadership styles, there are autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages that can have a significant impact on a leader's employees . This can mean the only employees who remain working with the company are unmotivated and even lazy individuals. 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. Because of the strict method in which employees are micromanaged, there is no room for flexibility within the work environment. Home Pros and Cons 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. Motivation and reward for leaders Effective where a chain of command is crucial What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? Advantages and Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership This ensures that employees are exercising best of their abilities to get the job done, and time and other resources are not wasted. support and direction. Autocratic leaders are in charge and they make this fact known. Definition, Principles, Techniques, and Pros/Cons. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. Faster decision-making Read more about each of these advantages in detail in our separate post: Laissez-Faire Leadership Advantages. There is nothing complicated about the autocratic leadership style. Pros of autocratic leadership Contrary to popular opinions, many organisations are well suited to the autocratic leadership type at some degree. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. The three commonly observed leadership . Faster decision-making and quick information-sharing can help boost the teams productivity. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. This is one of the autocratic leader strengths and weaknesses that is highly dependent on the workplace environment. * The leaders set rules, and systems for their team members. That is because there is one person and they are in charge of all arrangements. This leadership style doesnt have a specific training forum to attend or require knowledge of a specific theory of leadership. 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. Autocratic leadership eliminates this issue because the command goes straight to the workers involved. 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. Now, she's focusing her writing on helping other small business owners and people planning to become small business owners navigate this crazy thing we call entrepreneurship. 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. When a leader is asked to operate in an authoritarian manner, it is difficult to turn that role on and off on-demand. Autocratic leadership is an exchange process, so it is a matter of contingent reinforcement of staff based on performances. The leader does not have to deal with internal politics or disputes at the decision-making stage. Employee morale can also be negatively affected when autocratic leadership is employed. Employees feel motivated and devote their maximum effort when they feel valued for their presence and contribution. 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. Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more! So, there are. Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. 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. 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. Do you have a team of inexperienced employees? Autocratic leaders generally could use organizational . The theory, which is generally linked with autocratic leadership, assumes employees don't like to work and tend to focus on fulfilling self-interests. 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. Effective communication is when the receiver gets the exact message the sender wants to convey. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. When the leader is the only person in the organization who makes decisions and determines the companys strategy, they can easily feel overwhelmed. Autocratic leaders exercise absolute control over the team. 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. In such organizations, employees are highly experienced and knowledgeable and they tend to work in a democratic environment instead of an autocratic environment. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. What Is Autocratic Leadership? Definition, Pros and Cons Low satisfaction also results in below performance than expectations. In this type of leadership, the rules and procedures that teams use are quite rigid. This style tends to decrease employee performance when additional duties are imposed on the employees without consultation. In a system of dependence, an autocratic leadership style creates a lack of trust between you and your workers. That means the personal morality of the leader becomes the corporate reality of the business. When an autocratic leadership style is used in these situations, then the control the policies and procedures provide encourage a deeper commitment to safety. It creates moments of insecurity within the leadership. This creates more speed, better productivity, and enhanced efficiencies within the workplace. 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. - reduces staff turnover. St. Thomas University: What is Autocratic Leadership? They make the decision first and then announces it. 1. Autocratic Leadership: Definition, Examples & Effect on Employees Only the leader will weigh the pros and cons of every option instead of the entire C-suite. What Are the Pros and Cons of Autocratic Leadership? | SB . Management & Leadership Styles | Autocratic, Democratic - YouTube They must control the consistency at a personal level, which means they can no longer afford to give their team any freedom to operate. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. 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. 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 are typically trusted with decisions or important tasks. 214 High Street, 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. Workers can benefit from the competencies offered by their leader, replicating productivity by using the leaders knowledge and experience as a workplace asset. The democratic leadership style does solicit for opinions, perspectives, and experiences. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? An autocratic leadership style is similar to an authoritarian leadership style. Leadership styles There are many ways to lead and every leader has his or her own style. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. Because autocratic leaders are able to move information throughout an organization quickly, there are fewer delays in productivity. If the leader offers questionable ethics, however, and refuses to create fairness, then there is no one who can really hold that person accountable. That reduces the productivity available, and eventually leads to declining morale. This leadership style can produce authoritative short-term results. It may create an unwelcome culture within the organization. Answer (1 of 10): Before I begin, I also tried this type of leadership among newcomers in our Unit. One of the disadvantages of autocratic leadership is that it degrades the employees morale and motivation. Autocratic leadership has a clearly defined chain of command. Autocracy in the workplace also results in high employee turnover. The work culture is based solely on the ethics and morality of the leader, which means a poor working environment is not likely to change. Laissez-Faire. Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. People only thrive here is there is no investment in what they do. That means leaders using this style tend to be busier than other leaders. Subordinates are expected to comply with orders from their supervisors, who in turn are expected to comply with orders from their superiors. An autocratic leader is well-equipped to deal with a crisis situation. 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. . The main characteristics of autocratic leadership style are as follows: * Autocratic leaders make all the decisions and pass them down to the people under them for implementation. There are high levels of frustration often found in an autocratic environment, even if workers are inexperienced. The decision can be made faster with this leadership style. Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. Humans are by nature different from each other; still, experts try to categorize them into various segments. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? 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. An autocratic. Autocratic leadership involves absolute, authoritarian control over a group of people. Although in authoritarian leadership, there is one-way communication there also exists effective communication. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); At BokasTutor, We aim to provide easy and insightful explanations on different topics of disciplines like Management, Marketing, Finance, Business, and Entrepreneurship. The foundation of the autocratic leadership style is one built on mistrust. There are numerous autocratic leadership strengths and weaknesses and sometimes, a characteristic thats a strength in one scenario is a weakness in another. There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. Disadvantages. The communication in the autocratic leadership can be considered as "one-way" ( the manager say . 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. Moreover, they also like to enjoy the credit for the projects success, leaving the employees disheartened. Through close supervision and an emphasis on order and discipline, the autocratic leadership style allows everyone to focus on specific goals or targets to reach. People who rely on this leadership style are often viewed as dictators or bossy. Subordinates tend to shirk responsibility and initiative. 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. Employees, in turn, learn discipline and consistency from their leader. 6. According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. Inexperienced employees lack the ability to understand the outlined rules and regulations of the organization. Autocratic leadership is . 2. 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. Autocratic Leadership | Characteristics, Advantages, Disadvantages 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. Many say the autocratic leadership style is unfit in todays business environment. 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. Employees do not get recognition for their efforts. If the results an autocratic leader achieves do not meet corporate expectations, then it can be difficult to correct the issue. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. Although creativity, independent thinking, and new processes are included as part of the overall leadership style, their implementation is not a top priority. Autocratic leaders generally believe that they are the smartest people around and know more than their subordinates. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pilihan pelajar terhadap aliran sains dan pola pilihan mengikut tahap kefahaman pengetahuan asas sains. What Is Autocratic Leadership? - University of Phoenix 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. The quality of a team, structure, or organization practicing autocratic leadership is dependent upon the ethics of the leader in charge. 1. 3. Three leadership styles advantages and disadvantages - Medium Pros and Cons of Autocracy | Indeed.com Some are encouraging and collaborative, while others are commanding and dominating. Fewer layers of administration and lesser feedback to look into facilitates swift decision-making in the team. 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Democratic Leadership Style According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. That means many leaders practicing this leadership style eventually turn into micromanagers, even if that is not their intent. The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. Autocratic leadership style ensures that a consistent message is sent from the centre to the employees at the bottom of the organisations. Sources: 9. 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 for the employees, too. The autocratic leadership style should not be used when: Employees become tense, fearful, or resentful Employees expect to have their opinions heard Employees begin depending on their manager to make all their decisions There is low employee morale, high turnover and absenteeism 2.1.1 Advantages of Autocratic Style of Leadership When there is an autocratic leadership established within an organization, there are fewer levels of administration that must be kept informed of each decision. But this might not be possible with an autocratic leadership style. 2. 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 The Advantages of the Laissez-Faire Leadership Style Here is a list of the pros of the Laissez-Faire Leadership style: 1. Autocratic leadership is suitable when the organization is small. They wont get blamed if it fails and they wont get credit if it succeeds. - They don't have group members, they have followers. Bad leaders can put a company out of business. Some employees dont like the idea of being asked to make an important decision about the future of the company. This can lead to burnout. If yes, then the best way to manage such teams is through autocratic leadership. advantages of the autocratic leadership style, autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. - good style for meetings. 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. 6. Autocratic Leadership - Definition and Principles with Examples This system leaves the employees stress-free. Khan et al. Degrades trust and morale: Autocratic leadership discourages input, which can make teams feel like their ideas are ignored and they're unable to contribute. What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? This form serves well when the . In the permissive version, the autocratic leader still makes the final decision, but extends some flexibility to their direct reports in how tasks are completed. . These benefits of autocratic leadership can swiftly take the team out of trouble. That consistency leads toward corporate success. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. Disadvantages: Autocratic leadership eradicates this confusion as the command goes straight to the people involved.