It motivates staff by appealing to their personal desires and on instrumental economic transactions. 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 leadership has a clearly defined chain of command. Autocratic leadership style ensures that a consistent message is sent from the centre to the employees at the bottom of the organisations. 4. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. This procedure often leads to the consistent delivery of projects and has a significant impact on the employees performance and productivity. 3. Some people dont like the idea of coming up with new ideas. Pros of autocratic leadership However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. 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. Autocratic Leadership. 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. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. If they face a decision in the work they are doing, they are almost forced to go to the leader for advice on what to do instead of making the decision on their own. In . 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. Check out Harappas Inspiring Faculty Program and experience growth in your leadership now. It creates focused targets for everyone. How Procedures Can Improve Efficiency, available at: https://online.stu.edu/articles/education/autocratic-leadership.aspx (accessed 06 April 2021). 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. Check out Harappas, Autocratic Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages. Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. Even if the leader is not knowledgeable in the area, they are forced into a position where they must decide. This helps to resolve the emergencies rather effectively when compared to other leadership styles. This improves the speed of decisions because only one person is weighing the pros and cons of each choice, not a C-Suite. 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. Such leaders usually make decisions based on their own judgment and ideas. the us american football coach vince lombardi is an example. Authoritative leaders are most consistent in their approaches and systems. They may sometimes ask their team members to provide feedback, however, the feedback is highly unlikely to change the decisions. We all had, in one job or another, a boss who was feared by everyone. Advantages. This can lead to burnout. Advantages of autocratic leadership style. Attner, R. and Plunkett, W. (1994) Introduction to management, 5th edition, California: Wadsworth, Inc. Murphy, M. (2019) Does anyone actually like autocratic leaders? There is just one person in charge. autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages? * Very limited or no input at all from the subordinates. 8. VAT reg no 816865400. Open lines of communication ensure that everyone on the team is working toward the same goal. 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 They can easily manage these issues because theyre the only ones who get to call the shots. Workers become dependent on someone else to make decisions. Safeguarding Mental Health in the Gig Economy Strengths of Laissez-Faire Leaders When an autocratic leader is consistent with their ethics and is determined to create a fair working environment, then there can be a lot of positives for workers in a company. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider with the autocratic leadership style. Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership pdf It would be a great world if everyone could work together cohesively, pushing a business to its desired goal. When there are multiple levels of leadership within an organization, a command from the top becomes like a childhood game of Telephone. The laissez-faire or free reign leader scarcely provides direction to his team members. If that leader goes away, then the team is unable to function because they were focused on their role. One of the disadvantages of autocratic leadership is that it degrades the employees morale and motivation. What is the cons of autocratic leadership? 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 increases the work burden for the leader. When the autocratic leadership style is used with an inexperienced team, the experience of the leader can replace the skill gap that is present. As in an autocratic organization, a single leader is involved in decision-making, he makes decisions based on his own logic and judgment. These. The leader defines goals and the limitations for action and then leaves the remaining process. Disadvantages: 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!). 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. 1. 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). They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. And what are autocratic leadership pros and cons? 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. The following are some of the pros of the autocratic leadership style: The autocratic leadership style facilitates quick decision-making in the workplace. Charismatic leaders usually display a great level of confidence to convince a large audience. Though autocratic leadership style is often criticised, it is true that many historic autocratic leaders have been innovators who unleashed revolutions in different fields. Do you have a team of inexperienced employees? 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. 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. Autocratic leadership is one-directional, top-down leadership. And when it comes to long-term issues, autocratic leaders know how to direct traffic through the hierarchies. Each person benefits from the regulated competencies that are offered by the leader. 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. List of the Disadvantages of Authoritarian Leadership It may cause some employees to rebel. Rules are placed for employees to follow in an autocratic leadership style because there is a need to create consistency. In some situations, this leadership . 10. In this kind of leadership mostly leader makes new contacts with outside people. Autocratic leadership style is commonly associated with excessive employee turnover (employees leaving an organisation). Pros These benefits of autocratic leadership can swiftly take the team out of trouble. What is Laissez-Faire Leadership? 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. Bad leaders can put a company out of business. These types of interactions do not create a sustainable working relationship, which ultimately creates productivity problems as workers experience lower morale levels. Although creativity, independent thinking, and new processes are included as part of the overall leadership style, their implementation is not a top priority. - There is a clear division between the followers and the leaders. Unfortunately, they might not appreciate the advice of their team members. 7. It is most likely that well-known leaders or managers are successful due to a combination of personal characteristics and good training. But, the results always lead to corporate success. 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. According to Attner and Plunkett (1994) managers who use the autocratic leadership style do not share decision-making authority with their subordinates. The leader is the only person to take the decision solely as they are in charge . When a company crisis occurs, a leader with authoritative traits can begin to call the shots to make immediate changes. 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. 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. ", 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 is an exchange process, so it is a matter of contingent reinforcement of staff based on performances. For that reason, some entities using this structure create an inheritance chain which allows another person to step into the leadership role right away. Along with many advantages, the autocratic leadership style also has various disadvantages. Autocratic leaders are in charge and they make this fact known. Since autocratic leadership ensures clearly defined structures, it clearly states what to do and how to do it. All the standard operating procedures are also followed. It is one of the biggest advantages of the autocratic leadership style. Through goremotely.net, stats reveal that 78% of the employees want to quit their jobs due to lack of recognition. And they are accountable for the outcomes. Autocratic leadership Advantages And Disadvantages. This is beneficial to reduce role ambiguity among the employees. They may also feel that the leadership does not care about their needs and desires which is unproductive for organisations. The democratic leadership style does solicit for opinions, perspectives, and experiences. It removes the pressure on the employees. 1. That means there is a priority on consistency, with each team member performing their job functions in a similar way. They are bound to follow whatever the leaders ask them. Inexperienced employees need a detailed layout and instructions to complete taskstraits an autocratic leader is known for. An autocratic workplace environment is typically not friendly to innovation or outside-the-box thinking, and this can leave workers feeling intellectually stifled. Although this kind of leadership can sound harsh at first, it can be very effective. There are three main categories of leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. In many ways, it could be described as, Do it my way or go hit the highway. Workers get the job done, or else they go find a different job. List of the Advantages of Autocratic Leadership 1. Moreover, the instructions will go straight to the employees. For employees, an environment where decision-making is solely the managers job can mean a relatively low stress environment. 2. Charismatic leaders are usually adaptable and possess the power to make the followers feel comfortable with . They get to take all the credit for the work that gets done. - consultative although the manager will have the final say. Dependent on the leader: Organizational success is entirely dependent on the leader and their ideas, which can endanger the stability of the organization. That means the partnerships formed by the workers are with the rules, not with people, and that helps to drive down morale over time. But, what is autocratic leadership? Lets take a glimpse at who autocratic leaders are and what they do. Definitions of autocratic leadership style. Strict compliance becomes necessary. In addition, normally, inexperienced employees are rules followers. 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. According to goremotley.net, around 83% of employers feel that it is crucial to create leaders at all levels. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. Its advantages are as follows: 1) An autocratic leader is in close control of the organization. - reduces staff turnover. However, excess control can also result in low employee morale and employee engagement. In such organizations, employees are highly experienced and knowledgeable and they tend to work in a democratic environment instead of an autocratic environment. If you know anything about democratic leadership, you will know that it sounds better than autocracy. As with other leadership styles, there are autocratic leadership advantages and disadvantages that can have a significant impact on a leader's employees . Individual decision making: Less competent sub-managers can be used only to carry out the orders of the boss. In addition, in this style of leadership, managers don't take care of the opinions of their staff and ore not open to changes. People who step out of this line are quickly identified and brought back into the fold. These were the autocratic leadership style advantages and disadvantages. Unlike, group decision-making the autocratic leader does not have to decide with his followers. The procedures and rules might seem rigid. Autocratic leadership is a suitable option for small-sized organizations where a single leader can handle all the matters easily. We hope the article Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style has been helpful. A military leader who cannot make executive decisions can cause a security breach during critical operations, and military personnel who do not receive clear, direct orders from their leaders can become confused and fail to act when necessary. There is also less feedback from various levels of management which must be processed. Inexperienced employees lack the ability to understand the outlined rules and regulations of the organization. They prefer to set their objectives, plan of action, processes and methods independently. The productivity levels may be higher, but with no say in the process, resentment will quickly build. This ensures that employees are exercising best of their abilities to get the job done, and time and other resources are not wasted. The idea here is that with a centralised control, giving guidance and direction to employees is relatively easy. . For example: When quick decisions are needed in a company (e.g. Autocratic leaders take the pressure off of their teams because they are fully responsible for the decisions that are made. Autocratic leaders are like the captain of the ship. It creates moments of insecurity within the leadership. In this article, we outline some essential autocratic leadership pros and cons. Every leadership style comes with some benefits and weaknesses. This working environment can leave employees feeling suppressed. Additionally, a leader like this improves workplace efficiency by instructing staff members on what to do and how to meet deadlines.