The autocratic leader: is he as bad as he is made out to be?

Autocratic leadership concept

Etymologically, autocracy comes from the Greek terms ‘auto’ (by oneself) and ‘kratos’ (power or rule), so autocratic leadership can be defined as that a management style in which the manager assumes responsibility and decision-making on an individual basis, imposing his or her ideas and conclusions on the rest of the team.

This way of acting is associated with controlling, domineering, intransigent and overly demanding behaviour, therefore, in general terms, it is not one of the Top-rated leadership styles. But the autocratic leader He is also self-assured, decisive, and highly prepared.

Therefore, we must not forget that this model presents – like the rest – positive qualities and negative, so that The key to discerning its appropriate application rests, not in the style itself, but in the situation. of the team and the company.

Strengths and weaknesses of the autocratic leader

To discover when the autocratic leader is most effective, one must understand What are its advantages and disadvantages.

Among the pros of this style of leadership, the following stand out:

• These are profiles highly skilled, with great technical skills and experience, thus demonstrating a total mastery of their field of operation.
• El líder autocrático tiene una perspectiva de trabajo orientada al achievement of objectives in the short term, trying to achieve the goals set by the company.
• Your performance is highly efficient and, by setting the standards and guidelines for the teams and directly controlling the work of employees, he ensures that projects are executed on time and in full.
• This leadership model also presents a good responsiveness in the face of potential changes or crisis situations, thanks to the security and self-confidence it possesses, which allows for finding agile and effective solutions to unforeseen events.
• Due to his total oversight, the autocratic leader simplifies work and processes.
• Given that they feel they hold the power, this type of manager also becomes responsible for the work of the whole team, The report is a success as well as a failure.

Among the weaknesses The hallmarks of an autocratic leader include:

• The autocratic leader lacks social skills, which makes it difficult to build personal relationships and assertively communicate with the workers under their charge.
• Considers their point of view as the only valid one, ignoring the proposals and perspectives of others and avoiding participation and implication of workers.
• Their levels of demand may prove to be stressors for the teams, leading to demotivation, mental blocks, or absenteeism among staff.
• In the same way that one is held responsible for collective failures, one is also considered the absolute architect of achievements, so it is unable to recognise the work of subordinates.

Ideal application scenarios for the model

As a consequence, there are some situations where this leadership style is most suitable. When does the autocratic leader work best?

• In the case of teams with low preparation, little experience, or lack of motivation, the autocratic leader will have the ability to mark the path forward in great detail.
• When a new project or a new working group is set up., this model allows for the establishment of clear and concise guidelines that all workers can follow, avoiding confusion in that initial stage.

In situations of business crises or high-stress situations, ...where there is no option to reach consensus on decisions, this leader is capable of taking control and offering solutions to overcome the company's obstacles.