Authoritarian Management Could Be Ruining Your Team's Culture-Quick Fixes to Implement
A bosses' boss, the one who always demands the spotlight and ensures you're drowning in work too. That's what they call an autocratic leader.
Never heard that term before? Well, it's essentially a one-man show where the leader calls the shots, issues orders, and expects them to be followed without question. The term autocratic comes from the ancient Greek words autos (self) and kratos (rule or power), meaning a self-ruler. In leadership context, it refers to an individual wielding the majority of control within a group or organization.
This type of leadership is all about centralization. The leader sets the direction, defines tasks, and controls the outcomes with little room for input from the group and feedback is optional at best. Unlike collaborative approaches, autocratic leadership doesn't aim for consensus. It values speed, clarity, and control, with the belief that one person always knows best. Some argue that this method leans more towards management than actual leadership, but former co-CEO of Chipotle, Monty Moran, says management is about "getting people to do something for you," while leadership is about "getting people to do something for themselves."
Despite earning a negative connotation, autocratic leadership has its merits, particularly in high-pressure situations. Current studies show that in emergency scenarios, autocratic leadership can actually boost trust in the leader, offering that swift, decisive action we all look for in chaos.
So, what are the signs of an autocratic leader?
- Independently makes decisions free of team input
- Gives clear, direct instructions that must be followed without debate
- Takes full responsibility for the outcomes (good or bad)
- Sets strict rules and expects discipline across the board
- Delegates only minimally, preferring to keep everything under central control
- Acts quickly and decisively, especially under pressure
- Monitors performance closely and steps in when results falter
- Values efficiency over collaboration
- Rarely asks for feedback but may offer frequent corrections
- Expects exceptionally high standards
What's the secret to becoming a leader? According to Monty, it's about learning to give up control. So, this style might not be everyone's cup of tea.
You've probably heard of other leadership styles, like democratic and laissez-faire. But, people's preferred style can vary based on the team and organization they're seen in. A 2022 global survey suggests that 46.9% of respondents preferred the democratic leadership style, whereas only 2.8% favored the autocratic style.
Finally, autocratic leadership can be spotted in some of the most powerful roles everywhere, from politics and business to the military. Some famous examples include Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Elon Musk, to name a few. However, it's important to remember that not all bosses make the tough decisions. Some choose to lead less through rewards and consequences and more by maintaining tight control over direction, execution, and outcomes, even if they don't call themselves autocratic.
Autocratic leadership shines brightest when time is of the essence or when precision trumps opinions. Here's where this style really thrives:
- Crisis or emergency situations
- Military or law enforcement environments
- Factories or high-risk industries
- Startups in their formative stages with tight deadlines
- Training or unskilled teams
- Large organizations that require strict coordination
- Cultures that value hierarchy and authority
- Enforcing safety, compliance, or legal standards
- Turnaround situations or restructuring projects
- Scenarios requiring decisions to be made quickly and with confidence
There you have it - a simple guide to autocratic leadership. Despite its drawbacks, understanding this style is crucial if you witness it in action, whether you love it or despise it.
- In the context of leadership, the term 'autocratic' stems from ancient Greek words meaning a self-ruler, a leader who wields the majority of control within a group or organization.
- An autocratic leader independently makes decisions without team input, gives clear, direct instructions that must be followed without debate, and takes full responsibility for the outcomes (good or bad).
- This style of leadership can be beneficial in high-pressure situations such as crisis or emergency scenarios, military or law enforcement environments, and startups with tight deadlines.
- Monty Moran, the former co-CEO of Chipotle, suggests that the key to becoming a leader is learning to give up control, which might not align with the autocratic approach that values efficiency over collaboration.
