What is Autocratic Leadership? Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons
The iron fist. We’ve all witnessed it.
Be it history, fiction or everyday life, tyrants are truly fascinating creatures. That is until you have to work for one…
But of course, there’s a name for that style of leadership – and it’s known as autocratic. But what exactly does that mean? And are autocratic leaders truly evil in every form?
What is Autocratic Leadership?
Autocratic leadership is a notorious style of leadership where a leader holds complete control and decision-making power over a group or organisation. In this type of leadership, the leader typically makes decisions without consulting others and expects strict obedience from their underlings.
Autocratic leaders are often dubbed authoritarian as it’s a style of leadership often associated with a hierarchical organisational structure, with a clear chain of command and strict rules and regulations.
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
– Lord Acton (British historian and politician)
It’s essentially the polar opposite of laissez-faire leadership and is considered one of the most common types of business leadership styles.
Characteristics of Autocratic Leadership
Autocratic leaders have a distinctive set of characteristics that differentiate them from other leadership styles. Here are some common characteristics of autocratic leaders:
Centralized decision-making: They make decisions without consulting their subordinates and seek complete control over their organisation or group.
Strict control: Strict control must be maintained over their subordinates, using their authority to enforce rules and regulations. They may use fear, punishment, or other forms of coercion to keep their followers in line.
Little to no input from others: Autocratic leaders do not solicit feedback or ideas from their subordinates, nor do they delegate decision-making authority. They often consider themselves the only ones capable of making important decisions.
Authoritarian style: Can often be authoritarian as well which involves a top-down approach where orders are given to subordinates and strict obedience is a must.
Decisiveness: They tend to be decisive and can make swift decisions, which can be an advantage in certain situations.
Lack of flexibility: They’re often rigid when it comes to change and rarely change their approach.
Close-minded: They often refute new ideas they never considered themselves.
Low levels of employee empowerment: Autocratic leaders tend to give their subordinates little autonomy or empowerment, resulting in lower levels of job satisfaction and motivation.
“Truth is, there’s no one who can do what I do”.
– Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada)
Quick History of Autocratic Leadership
Autocratic leadership has been a mainstay throughout history, being used by various leaders across the world. Flip open a history book, and you’re bound to land on a leader who sought ultimate control.
One of the earliest examples of autocratic leadership can be found in ancient Egypt, where pharaohs enjoyed absolute power and were considered divine rulers. The pharaohs' word was law, and their subjects were expected to obey them without question.
Another well-known example was the Roman Empire. Here emperors like Julius Caesar and Augustus wielded immense power and authority over their governments and military.
In more recent history, examples of autocratic leadership can be found in monarchies, where kings and queens were the sole arbiters over entire countries and empires. For example, Louis XIV of France was known as the "Sun King" and held complete control over his kingdom during his reign. (His descendants didn’t quite enjoy that luxury, and let’s just say they lost their heads of state.)
In the 20th century, we get to history’s most famous autocratic leaders who rose to power in several countries, including Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, and China under Mao Zedong. These leaders used propaganda, repression, and violence to maintain their power and control over their citizens.
Today, autocratic leadership is still used in some countries, particularly in authoritarian regimes where leaders possess ultimate power and control over their citizens. And every now and then, it can pop up in the wildest of places, particularly British Prime Ministers.
"An autocratic leader is a quantitative boss who seeks efficiency, but a democratic leader is a qualitative boss who seeks effectiveness."
– Pearl Zhu (American author)
Examples of Autocratic Leaders in Business
Now we’ve seen what history had to offer, let’s look at a few recent examples of business leaders who have been described as autocratic:
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla
Musk has been known for his highly centralized leadership style, in which he exerts significant control over all aspects of Tesla's (and now Twitter’s) operations. He has been criticized for his autocratic tendencies, including his frequent public criticisms of employees (which he sometimes apologises for) and his tendency to make unilateral decisions without consulting his team.
Travis Kalanick, former CEO of Uber
Kalanick was known for his aggressive and controlling leadership style, which included pushing his team to work long hours and prioritize growth over other considerations. He was criticized for his autocratic tendencies, including his tendency to ignore feedback from his team and his willingness to take on legal and regulatory risks in pursuit of his goals.
Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group
Ma was known for his hands-on leadership style, in which he maintained tight control over all aspects of Alibaba's operations. He was criticized for his autocratic tendencies, including his tendency to micromanage his team and his lack of transparency and accountability.
It is worth noting that the characterization of these leaders as "autocratic" is a matter of opinion and perspective, and that there is often debate among analysts and observers about the appropriate way to describe different leadership styles.
Pros and Cons of Autocratic Leadership
Autocratic leadership does have advantages as well as disadvantages, here are some below:
Pros
✓ Can result in swift decision-making which is advantageous in situations where time is of the essence and quick decisions are necessary.
✓ Clear hierarchies and a clearly defined chain of command can reduce confusion and make it easier to assign tasks and responsibilities.
✓ Strong and decisive leaders can inspire confidence in their subordinates, especially in high-stress or high-risk situations.
Cons
❌ Limited input can lead to poor decision-making as well as resentment and low morale among team members.
❌ Poor communication can often lead to misunderstandings and confusion.
❌ Lack of creativity and innovation, as they are not open to new ideas or approaches that challenge their own views.
❌ High turnover and difficulty in retaining talented employees thanks to the culture of tyranny autocratic leaders can instil.
❌ Echo chambers filled with fearful “yes men” can lead to tunnel vision and an inability to see alternative perspectives.
Closing Thoughts
"The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority."
– Ken Blanchard (American author)
Overall, autocratic leadership is best suited for situations where there is a strong need for absolute control and centralized decision-making. This can include areas like the military during wartime, and emergency response services (think surgery or ambulance/fire crews) where clear and fast directives can save lives.
But for the rest of who work in industries that have the luxury of enjoying collaboration, creativity, and employee empowerment, then it needs to be avoided like the plague.
While it’s effective in 1% of situations, it just doesn’t stand up to other leadership styles (some of my favourites include coaching and transformational). But most importantly, it leads to lower levels of engagement, motivation, and creativity among team members and is by no means a decent strategy for long-term success.
For more leadership styles articles, check out our What is Charismatic Leadership? Can Charisma Drive Change? or What Is Transactional Leadership? Is It an Effective Style?
Written by Michael
Michael Mauro is the founder of a forward-thinking organisation specialising in leadership, HR and employee development. With over a decade of global experience, Michael has become a leading voice on topics such as culture, inclusion, wellbeing, and the future of leadership.
