Wazalendo unity_official
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- Apr 27, 2019
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In this article we are going to discuss about autocratic leadership style. We will cover different angles including the meaning (definition), characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership style.
What is autocratic leadership style?
Autocratic leadership is a leadership style that follows a top-down approach, whereby a leader gives directions and orders to his or her team members rather than receiving suggestions and advice from them. In this leadership style the decisions are made by a leader without involvement of the team members. A leader makes decisions based on his or her own perspectives or beliefs. But also, the performance of a team or group is usually influenced by leader's coercion, whereby the team members or subordinates show their best performance to avoid punishment from their leader but not because they are passionate to a given task or job.
Autocratic leadership guarantees completion of tasks on time. It is a best style to opt when there is no chance for discussion, in a situation that requires a leader to come up with a quick decision. However this leadership style lowers team's working morale and discourages creativity.
Characteristics of autocratic leadership style
The following are the characteristics of autocratic leadership.
1. Centralized decision-making:
In autocratic leadership style, all decisions are made by a leader himself/herself without any input from his or her team members.
2. Top-down approach:
This leadership style follows top-down approach. The top-down approach means downward flowing of information (from a leader to surbodinates). In autocratic leadership, leaders give commands, orders and directions to their teams rather than receiving suggestions and advice from their teams.
3. No inputs from team members:
In this style, a leader is a sayer and decision maker, so there is no room for team members to contribute their ideas during decision-making process.
Advantages of autocratic leadership style
Below are some pros of autocratic style.
1. Time saving:
This leadership style saves time since there is no room for discussions which may take long time to collect ideas from the team members and choosing the best one. The autocratic leaders make quick decisions based on their perspectives without involving other members. Thus, it can be a good style when time is limited.
2. High level of discipline:
Autocratic leaders are very strict so they always ensure that principles, rules and procedures are followed. This can improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary errors.
3. Clear structure:
This style clarifies who is responsible to tasks, a deadline, rules and procedures to follow which can help to avoid ambiguity in a team.
Disadvantages of autocratic leadership style
The cons of autocratic leadership include;
1. It discourages creativity:
Since leaders don't let their team members to contribute in decision-making process, it can discourage creativity in a team.
2. It requires a skilled leader:
Since a leader is a decision maker, he or she must be skilled and good at making decisions, otherwise a team may fail to reach it's goals due to fault decisions of a leader.
3. It discourages motivation:
The coercion of a leader may lower working morale but also the team members may feel not valued because they are not involved in decision making.
When does autocratic leadership style is more effective?
Autocratic leadership works best in projects that require quick decision-making and when a company is facing constant change or a crisis. This style is not good for collaborative teams or when team members perform tasks that require sharing of ideas and feedbacks.
References:
1. Autocratic Leadership Style: Meaning, Characteristics, Advantages And Disadvantages
2. 10 Management Styles For Effective Leadership (Pros, Cons, When to use them) And Factors Influencing Management Styles
3. Best 10 Effective Management Styles For Leaders
What is autocratic leadership style?
Autocratic leadership is a leadership style that follows a top-down approach, whereby a leader gives directions and orders to his or her team members rather than receiving suggestions and advice from them. In this leadership style the decisions are made by a leader without involvement of the team members. A leader makes decisions based on his or her own perspectives or beliefs. But also, the performance of a team or group is usually influenced by leader's coercion, whereby the team members or subordinates show their best performance to avoid punishment from their leader but not because they are passionate to a given task or job.
Autocratic leadership guarantees completion of tasks on time. It is a best style to opt when there is no chance for discussion, in a situation that requires a leader to come up with a quick decision. However this leadership style lowers team's working morale and discourages creativity.
Characteristics of autocratic leadership style
The following are the characteristics of autocratic leadership.
1. Centralized decision-making:
In autocratic leadership style, all decisions are made by a leader himself/herself without any input from his or her team members.
2. Top-down approach:
This leadership style follows top-down approach. The top-down approach means downward flowing of information (from a leader to surbodinates). In autocratic leadership, leaders give commands, orders and directions to their teams rather than receiving suggestions and advice from their teams.
3. No inputs from team members:
In this style, a leader is a sayer and decision maker, so there is no room for team members to contribute their ideas during decision-making process.
Advantages of autocratic leadership style
Below are some pros of autocratic style.
1. Time saving:
This leadership style saves time since there is no room for discussions which may take long time to collect ideas from the team members and choosing the best one. The autocratic leaders make quick decisions based on their perspectives without involving other members. Thus, it can be a good style when time is limited.
2. High level of discipline:
Autocratic leaders are very strict so they always ensure that principles, rules and procedures are followed. This can improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary errors.
3. Clear structure:
This style clarifies who is responsible to tasks, a deadline, rules and procedures to follow which can help to avoid ambiguity in a team.
Disadvantages of autocratic leadership style
The cons of autocratic leadership include;
1. It discourages creativity:
Since leaders don't let their team members to contribute in decision-making process, it can discourage creativity in a team.
2. It requires a skilled leader:
Since a leader is a decision maker, he or she must be skilled and good at making decisions, otherwise a team may fail to reach it's goals due to fault decisions of a leader.
3. It discourages motivation:
The coercion of a leader may lower working morale but also the team members may feel not valued because they are not involved in decision making.
When does autocratic leadership style is more effective?
Autocratic leadership works best in projects that require quick decision-making and when a company is facing constant change or a crisis. This style is not good for collaborative teams or when team members perform tasks that require sharing of ideas and feedbacks.
References:
1. Autocratic Leadership Style: Meaning, Characteristics, Advantages And Disadvantages
2. 10 Management Styles For Effective Leadership (Pros, Cons, When to use them) And Factors Influencing Management Styles
3. Best 10 Effective Management Styles For Leaders
