If the leader offers questionable ethics, however, and refuses to create fairness, then there is no one who can really hold that person accountable. 10. St. Thomas University: What is Democratic/Participative Leadership? And they are accountable for the outcomes. 2. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. It gets even worse if workers can voice an opinion that is never utilized. Leaders do not concern about whether or not subordinates are satisfied with their actions and instructions. The theory, which is generally linked with autocratic leadership, assumes employees don't like to work and tend to focus on fulfilling self-interests. Explains that autocratic leadership is a style often associated with the world of sports. Pros But rarely do employees know that there are several. It is an easy way to cut through administrative red tape to ensure better communication to all workers. Autocratic leadership is very similar to the authoritarian leadership style. They know themselves very well and try to bring people together to achieve the organisational goals. Over time, this makes employee morale begin to sink. This process may create a powerful and positive impact on their performance. Safeguarding Mental Health in the Gig Economy Strengths of Laissez-Faire Leaders When a leader is asked to operate in an authoritarian manner, it is difficult to turn that role on and off on-demand. However, they describe the disadvantages of this style as promoting staff defiance, lack of free . Control in the group is minimal; authority is shared among members. 8. The result is a more consistent and accurate output. Although they set their rules and regulations to control the team, they also play a significant role in eradicating employee stress. That means workers who are highly skilled or motivated begin to lose their incentives to stay active under this leadership structure. This helps to resolve the emergencies rather effectively when compared to other leadership styles. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership The Disadvantages of Laissez-Faire Leadership. 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. Do you have to be born with the correct qualities or can you be taught to be a good leader? 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. If that leader goes away, then the team is unable to function because they were focused on their role. Sources: 9. That means the personal morality of the leader becomes the corporate reality of the business. The autocratic leadership style means that the person in charge has the entire control upon all decision making. 7. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. These environments allow for an error margin of zero. There are a number of vital benefits to autocratic leadership, according to the Houston Chronicle. Although this form of leadership is often found within the government, it is also present in some corporate structures as well. 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. 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. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. They can replicate results because they are given specific instructions to follow. Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice. There is no gray area for employee performance in this type of environment, which can be comforting for employees. Management Styles in a Business (GCSE) | Business | tutor2u There are fewer delays because best practices are being followed consistently. Because of the too much rigidity in the structure, and low growth opportunities, most of the experienced employees tend to leave the autocratic organizations. According to St Thomas University (2018) the autocratic leadership process generally entails one person making all the strategic decisions for their subordinates. The correct leadership approach used at the right time will foster a long-term employeeleader relationship. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each leadership style When the leader is the only person in the organization who makes decisions and determines the companys strategy, they can easily feel overwhelmed. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They must make every decision for the team. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? 6. Advantages of Bureaucratic Leadership Bureaucratic leadership works in so many ways0 Job security and results are both stable Favoritism is no longer a factor in the equation Roles, duties, and expectations are all evident A system of processes and rules that are extremely apparent creates a stronger level of job security Both issues decrease worker morale and put blame on someone, even though the issue may not be their fault. 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. Such leaders usually make decisions based on their own judgment and ideas. People who step out of this line are quickly identified and brought back into the fold. They even need guidance and instruction on how to, to do the given jobs. Your email address will not be published. This can lead to burnout. The leader defines goals and the limitations for action and then leaves the remaining process. 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. It allows for fast decisions to be made. Autocratic leadership is an exchange process, so it is a matter of contingent reinforcement of staff based on performances. The leader will need to create the system, with all the rules and procedures, in which the team uses to operate and reach goals. The benefits and disadvantages of benevolent leadership On the other hand, employees are responsible for following instructions and meeting deadlines. 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. 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. What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Autocratic Leadership Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. Contrast this with an autocratic leader, who does not ask their team for their input when making a decision. Although this kind of leadership can sound harsh at first, it can be very effective. Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more! Though autocratic leadership style is often criticised, it is true that many historic autocratic leaders have been innovators who unleashed revolutions in different fields. Analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the autocratic leadership style by examining examples of leaders and companies. Working with a supervisor who makes all expectations clear and specifies exactly how to perform tasks can make the process of acclimating to a new work environment much easier for the employee. 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. advantages of the autocratic leadership style, autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. Autocratic leaders dont deal with the hassle of multiple leadership levels. The Mini Guide On Workplace Autocratic Leadership Style - Vantage Circle ", 100 Best Side Hustles for Teens to Make Money, 10 Proven Psychological Pricing Strategies with Examples, 100 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know, 50 Best Business Letter Closings of All-Time. Autocratic leadership, however, has. In other styles, there is a risk that by the time employees receive the message, the entire original message could be lost or there could be multiple interpretations of the message that create confusion. If there is a short-term problem, the expertise of the leader can be used to create a solution. Let's explore whether an autocratic leadership style is the right one for you: Benefits of Autocratic Leadership Style. . In workplaces where the employees are largely young and inexperienced, autocratic leadership can be the most effective approach. Definitions of autocratic leadership style. Although in authoritarian leadership, there is one-way communication there also exists effective communication. - There is a clear division between the followers and the leaders. A democratic style of management will put trust in employees and encourage them to make decisions. They, therefore, make all the strategic decisions without any or extremely little inputs from the people who work under them. The laissez-faire or free reign leader scarcely provides direction to his team members. The Advantages of the Laissez-Faire Leadership Style Here is a list of the pros of the Laissez-Faire Leadership style: 1. These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. Autocratic Leadership: Definition, Examples, and Pros and Cons The democratic leadership style does solicit for opinions, perspectives, and experiences. An autocratic. and lack of staff initiative (2015). 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. That means workers tend to not take ownership of the work they do because there is no incentive to do so. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pilihan pelajar terhadap aliran sains dan pola pilihan mengikut tahap kefahaman pengetahuan asas sains. Definition, Principles, Techniques, and Pros/Cons. There is no need to recognize emotions, respond to personal issues, or find other ways of motivation. Organisational continuity is threatened in the absence of the leader . Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. Most autocratic leaders do not consider the opinions or abilities of their staff members while making decisions. Autocratic leaders have imperious or commanding personalities. Many companies tend to turn to an autocratic leadership style when they need to create short-term results in an urgent way. 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. 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. This is beneficial to reduce role ambiguity among the employees. Likewise, Leona Helmsley of the Helmsley hotel chain andMartha Stewart of MSLO are also considered to have exercised this type of leadership style. Autocratic leadership eliminates this issue because the command goes straight to the workers involved. 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. Autocratic leaders ignore the skills of competent workers. The following are some of the pros of the autocratic leadership style: The autocratic leadership style facilitates quick decision-making in the workplace. Advantages of autocratic leadership style. In such organizations, the leader has a small number of tasks to handle and the number of employees is also few. There is just one person in charge. Autocratic leaders are able to handle a crisis situation easily because they are the ones who are in charge. They wont get blamed if it fails and they wont get credit if it succeeds. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. 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. It can be a joyless experience for team members. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. The productivity levels may be higher, but with no say in the process, resentment will quickly build. That means leaders using this style tend to be busier than other leaders. The biggest problem is, no one talks about innovation and out-of-the-box ideas in this leadership style. The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Autocratic Leadership Autocratic Leadership Guide: Definition, Qualities, Pros & Cons High clarity on structure and roles Organizations with autocratic leaders usually have very clear lines and borders in between different areas. He has the sole authority to command, direct, and instruct all the team members. 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. But this might not be possible with an autocratic leadership style. Unlike, group decision-making the autocratic leader does not have to decide with his followers. 8. In a system of dependence, an autocratic leadership style creates a lack of trust between you and your workers. This form serves well when the . The leader shares defined roles and patterns of work with the employees. Because all decisions are made by the leader, a new leader must be brought in, which requires everyone to start from scratch. Do you know why? Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. Bureaucratic Leadership - Definition, Advantages and Disadvantages They can easily manage these issues because they're the only ones who get to call the shots. Increased Work Burden At the end of the day, the autocratic leader is like the captain of a ship: every decision is a weight on their shoulders and they are ultimately responsible for what happens. 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages Autocracy in the workplace also results in high employee turnover. Autocratic Leadership. Autocratic leadership is . It creates moments of insecurity within the leadership. Motivation and reward for leaders Effective where a chain of command is crucial Leadership Styles and Factors in Effective Staff Motivation Taylor Coft But that is not the case always, there are many instances when autocratic leadership has proved itself a desirable option in the organizational setting. 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. Hence, he ensures that the products manufactured and services rendered meet the desired quality benchmarks. According to IPL.org, autocratic leadership is an extreme form of another kind of workplace leadership known as transactional leadership. Its advantages are as follows: 1) An autocratic leader is in close control of the organization. 8. However, according to Schaeffer (2002) autocratic leaders are not those who bully people needlessly. It improves productivity. - the leader respects other peoples opinions and feedback. 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. When there isnt enough time to learn something new or a project must be completed rapidly, this type of leadership is the best option. A team can become so dependent upon the leader that they stop functioning when their directions are no longer present. Home Pros and Cons 11 Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. If you liked any of these articles, please feel free to share with others by clicking on the social sharing icons. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. As only the leader makes decisions, the management may or may not provide feedback. That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. Increased autonomy 2. Did you ever tell him about your awesome weekend? According to Startingbusiness.com, a significant drawback to working with an autocratic leader is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. Key points of Advantages of autocratic leadership Highlights below: It allows for a fast decision to be made. Under autocratic leaders, subordinates would fear due to demands and expectations. 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. 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. Leadership styles There are many ways to lead and every leader has his or her own style. It is a style which dictates how people are supposed to work. 5. Did you know that autocratic leadership is great when it comes to handling crises? Advantages of Autocratic Leadership . The quality of a team, structure, or organization practicing autocratic leadership is dependent upon the ethics of the leader in charge. When the leaders are taking ownership for the quality of the completed work, there is no opportunity for team members to do so. The free reign approach can prove an effective type of leadership when the team has achieved identity and cohesion, resulting in motivated and resourceful team members. 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. 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. In time, this may result in fewer errors, which can provide a boost to revenues. 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. Autocratic leaders do not take input from other members of a team in their decisions. Each level of management can inadvertently (or purposely) put their own spin on the communication come from the leadership. Managers must be willing to encourage leadership skills in subordinates. However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. As autocratic leaders usually make decisions without consulting their team members, it may cause team members dislike towards the leadership. There Is No Room for Flexibility. Disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Business english 13. Some are strict with their staff and like to be in complete control, whilst others are more relaxed and allow workers the freedom to run their own working lives (just like the different approaches you may see in teachers!). Autocratic leadership is suitable when the organization is small. Some people dont like the idea of coming up with new ideas. The autocratic style provides fast crisis management benefits. They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. 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 Strict compliance becomes necessary. Boston House, for the employees, too. What is autocratic leadership and its advantages? Such strict discipline ensures timely work completion of the organization. This system leaves the employees stress-free. As such, in autocratic leadership, faster decisions can be made. The style is closely linked with Mayo's Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. Autocratic leadership A leadership style in which leaders dictate without consultation of subordinates. 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. 3. 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. 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. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. It may impair the morale of the group. Autocratic leadership involves absolute, authoritarian control over a group of people. And they are accountable for the outcomes. - consultative although the manager will have the final say. Moreover, they also like to enjoy the credit for the projects success, leaving the employees disheartened. Decisions can be made faster with this leadership style. We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. This person: Assigns tasks Keeps everyone on deadline Focuses on the big picture Makes sure everyone contributes equally There are three main categories of leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. 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. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. Check out Harappas Inspiring Faculty Program and experience growth in your leadership now. Autocracy Pros and Cons of Autocracy: Are There Reasons to Get a Grip? After all, this is what good leadership is all about. This allow for a quick turn-around of the issue, helping the company to begin pursuing its mission once again. 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. Autocratic style leads to frustration, low morale and conflict among subordinates. List of the Disadvantages of a Democratic Leadership Style. This detailed article sheds light on some of the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. This leadership style can produce authoritative short-term results. The Pros and Cons of Laissez-Faire Leadership | SB - Starting Business The leader is the only one who is in charge of the situation. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. 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. That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way.