Programme Planning, Implementation and Evalution

PROGRAMME PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION 2(1+1)

Lesson 14 : Leadership

Autocratic Leadership

An autocratic leader has a complete hold over his subordinates thereby dominating them. He loves power and enjoys it alone, without consulting his followers for important decisions. He never delegates authority and expects his subordinates to follow him unquestioningly, without any query. This leadership is quite suitable when the followers are illiterate, unskilled and submissive and hence the leader takes decision himself owing to lack of knowledge of the followers.
This leadership style is quite useful as it:

1. Allows quick decision making.
2. Gives satisfaction and encouragement to the autocratic leader.
3. Provides successful results when high speed is required.

Some of the weaknesses of autocratic leadership include:

1. Causes frustration, low morale and conflict among subordinates.
2. Followers avoid any kind of initiative and avoid holding any responsibility.
3. Actual capabilities and creativity of subordinates are not used.
4. Followers get no opportunity to develop as their opinion is not taken, hence difficult to sustain such kind of leadership, in the absence of the leader.