Autocratic Leadership: Definition, Features, Pros, Cons, and Examples

Explore the dynamics of autocratic leadership, where absolute power rests in the hands of one leader. Discover how this leadership approach influences workplace culture, employee morale, and organizational performance.

Leaders always inspire! They probably have a lot in common, but there is also a significant difference in their leadership techniques. Every leader has their own management style, and no leader leads in the same way as the other. One of the most traditional is autocratic leadership, also known as authoritarian. Let us learn about autocratic leadership in detail.

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What is Autocratic Leadership?

Autocratic or authoritarian leadership is a management style in which the leader makes all executive and operational decisions. It is also called command and control management because the manager gives orders and expects them to be carried out without question. The autocratic leader sometimes demands the loyalty and obedience of his employees in exchange for financial rewards or career advancement opportunities.

In autocratic leadership, the leader is the active subject and the only one responsible for promoting, directing and controlling all the actions in an organization/team. Although 100% authoritative, it is still frequently applied in many companies. Autocratic leadership is the complete opposite of democratic leadership.

This type of leadership has proved effective in acute crises and high-risk projects demanding great responsibility. It does not allow the participation of any employee in the decision-making process. 

Characteristics of Autocratic Leadership

Autocratic Leadership is a unidirectional leadership where subordinates only have to carry out the decisions established by the leader without possibly challenging them. It has some distinctive features, including:

• Decision-making and communication are unidirectional, flowing from the boss to senior management, middle management, and subordinates. 
• Allows little or no input from team members.
• The leader or company owner initiates and directs the tasks.
• Obtaining results is the most important thing. It does not usually value people’s hard work to achieve the objectives set.
• Responsibilities are not delegated.
• The leader manages the system of rewards and punishments.
• The relevant information is confidential, and only the boss knows it.
• Limited creativity and innovation among workers.
• The orders are specific, and the teams must follow the norms established by the superior.
• The boss does not have to justify his behaviour to his subordinates.
• Structured and rigid approach.
• Micromanagement.
• More control over the work process.

You should check some strategy and leadership courses along the way too. 

Advantages of Autocratic Leadership

• If something does not turn out as expected, it will be the sole responsibility of the leader and not the employee.
• Higher overall group performance.
• Optimized delivery times.
• Faster decision-making as it does not go through a consultation process.
• Especially effective in situations where quick decisions need to be made.
• Leads to quick and short-term results.
• Suitable in scenarios where team members are unmotivated or immature.

Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership

• Relegates employees’ participation and opinion, consequently producing a sense of not belonging.
• Employee performance decreases in the long run, and they do not feel valued.
• Can create a stressful work atmosphere and impact the emotional well-being of employees.
• Encourages the abuse of authority.
• Increases staff turnover. Employees who don’t feel comfortable with this type of leadership often tend to leave.
• Does not cultivate creativity and innovation among teams.

Examples of Autocratic Leadership

Some real-life examples of autocratic leadership in the corporate world include:

1. Steve Jobs (Co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc): Steve Jobs was known for his autocratic leadership style. He used to make all major decisions himself and demanded high perfection from his team. He was a visionary, leading Apple to create innovative and iconic products. However, his management style was not much appreciated and often created employee tensions and conflicts.
2. Jack Welch (Former CEO of General Electric): Jack Welch is referred to as a transformational leader, and he helped GE achieve higher levels of profitability. He was also known for his autocratic management style. He made the key decisions and expected strict adherence to his vision and goals.
3. Larry Ellison (Co-founder and former CEO of Oracle Corporation): Larry Ellison has been described as having an autocratic leadership style, where he made critical decisions independently and was known for his assertive and aggressive management approach. He played a significant role in building Oracle into a global technology company, but his leadership style was not without controversy.
4. Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla and SpaceX): Elon Musk has been recognized for his visionary ideas and driving force behind Tesla’s electric vehicles and SpaceX’s space exploration goals. However, his autocratic style of leadership has been under criticism. He is known to make critical decisions without much consultation and set ambitious, challenging goals for employees.

Conclusion

The autocratic leadership style is rigid and can backfire in creative environments. However, in companies that require agility and precision, if the boss is assertive and has the right skills, he can produce good results. It is worth mentioning that those who exercise autocratic leadership are not always unpleasant and openly hostile people. These individuals can be charismatic, persuasive, friendly and work facilitators, but they make decisions alone to achieve established goals. 

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