Definition: Autocratic leadership is a management style wherein one person controls all the decisions and takes very little inputs from other group members. Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice.
Description: Autocratic leadership is a form of management style in which one leader or member of the organisation takes decisions on behalf of the company. This type of leadership style is seen mostly in businesses which are relatively small with fewer employees.
This type of leadership style is only effective in organisations where the nature of work requires quick decision-making. The sole responsibility of the decision and the outcome is with the leader. It is considered to be a flexible leadership style but some would argue that it is outdated now.
However, there are certain characteristics of autocratic leadership such as - no inputs from other group members are taken, group leader(s) dictate all the tasks or distribute responsibilities among other employees, and no reward or recognition is given to employees to boost morale.
Some experts argue that this type of leadership style can be damaging rather than rewarding in the long run as it resembles that of a dictator. It leads to low employee morale, which in turn may lead to attrition in many cases.
However, there are some advantages of autocratic leadership as well. It leads to quick decision-making, control over the processes and the operations of a company, etc.
Autocratic leadership will be helpful in situations where a business faces constant change or a crisis. It will be able to react to the situation promptly compared to other leadership styles, because of streamlined organizational structure and quick decision-making ability.
