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Authoritarian leadership is a command and control style of leadership whereby a leader issues orders and will discipline their subordinates if these orders aren't executed to their expectations. This can be based on the management culture of an organization or the personal style of a manager. The following are illustrative examples of authoritarian leadership.
Command & ControlCommand and control is a system whereby orders are issued by a formal authority known as a chain of command. These orders must be executed quickly and accurately or disciplinary action may result. This type of system may make sense in an organization that requires mechanical precision. However, it is a trade-off with elements such as creativity and productivity that tend to be much higher with competing forms of management.
Authoritarian PersonalityAn authoritarian personality is an individual who seeks social dominance through their unquestioning allegiance to an authority. Such an individual has absolute respect for authority which they express by oppressing their subordinates.Authoritarian leadership tend to implement a large number of internal controls such as processes, systems, rules and procedures. Rules and processes may be designed with little flexibility and implemented with aggressive monitoring.
FreedomAuthoritarian leadership is based on control over freedom. In some cases, rules will be made that do not add value to the organization but are simply designed to eliminate freedoms. As most people naturally value their freedom, this tends to be an unhappy situation. For this reason, authoritarian leadership has trouble retaining talent in a competitive industry. Authoritarian leadership isn't commonly tolerated in industries that require talent who are in high demand.
DisciplineAuthoritarian leaders tend to be disciplinarians who are quick to hand out negative criticism and punishments. Again, this doesn't work in a knowledge economy where there is competition for talent.Authoritarian leaders may seek to control every aspect of work.Negative TacticsAuthoritarian leaders may employ negative tactics in their pursuit of control and power. For example, mushroom management whereby important information is intentionally withheld as a device of control. Authoritarian leaders are also likely to sideline talented team members they view as a threat or set them up to fail.|
| Type | | | Definition | A command and control style of leadership whereby a leader issues orders and will discipline their subordinates if these orders are executed to their expectations. | | Related Concepts | |
Authoritarian Leadership
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