Understanding Autocratic Leadership Style

Autocratic leadership style is no leadership, it is dictatorship. This might come as a surprise to you, but it is a fact. When we define autocratic leadership, you will gain a new understanding on what true leadership is and how it defers from autocratic leadership.

So the question is what is autocratic leadership?

Autocratic leadership came from the word AUTOCRATIC, this means domineering, to control, to oppress or subdue, to dictate.

Therefore Autocratic Leadership Style is a style which is characterized by an individual control over decisions, people and resources towards a common goal or vision and no input from the followers. Here leaders force or control people to do what they want and they don't care about what others want. Autocratic leaders only make choices based on their ideas, judgment and they don't take advice from followers.

These people confuse leadership with the ability to control others through manipulating their emotions and playing on their fears and needs.  The leaders are often viewed bossy, controlling and dictorial, which can lead to resentment among group members or followers.

Autocratic Leadership Style

True leadership goes far beyond the mechanics of most of the approaches that pervade our leadership programs today. It has more to do with discovering a sense of meaning and significance in life. This distinction separates the leadership quality of passion from the hunger or lust for power.

True leaders do not seek power but are driven by a passion to achieve a noble cause.

I am convinced that you were created to be a leading success. Every human being was created to lead in an area of gifting. You were never created to be oppressed, subjugated, subordinated or depressed.

The creator designed each human being to fulfill a specific purpose and assignment in life. Your assignment determines your area of leadership.

True Leadership

Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration motivated by a passion, generated by a vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose.

A careful study of this definition will reveal that leadership is not a pursuit but a result. Leadership is not a label you give yourself, leadership is what the people whom you inspire call you because they are stirred to participate in the positive vision that you are presenting them, whether it is the vision for a country, a company or a cause.

For instance Jesus of Nazareth, he is the ultimate model of effective leadership. He inspired his chosen followers so much that they left their businesses and their families in order to follow him.

He never threatened them or forced them to come, but inspired them and then invited them to join him. No true leader ever used Autocratic Leadership Style, apart from dictators like Adolf Hitler. 

How to Successfully Lead an Organization 

In other to practically apply leadership in your organization, let’s consider our definition. In our definition on leadership we will begin the process at the end.

It begins with the leaders discovery of a personal and organizational purpose that, when captured ignites a conviction. This conviction generates a vision in your heart that stirs a passion.

The force of your passionate pursuit of your personal and organizational vision inspires others, who are stirred to join in and cooperate with the vision of your organization.

This inspiration is the legitimate influence and the source of true leadership. The source of inspiration is passion. Passion is the discovery of a belief, reason, idea, conviction or cause not just to live for, but also to die for which focuses on benefiting mankind as a whole.

True leaders therefore are those who effectively express their inner passions, which find a common response in the heart of others. It is passion that attracts people to the leader, who motivates them to take action.

Therefore forcing and controlling people to follow you against their wishes is no leadership, it is dictatorship. Autocratic Leadership Style is simply an abuse of power, position and privilege.

Bottom Line

It doesn't matter whether you are the CEO of a large corporation, a teacher, a homemaker, the owner of a small business, a construction worker, an artist, a clerk, a government worker or any vocation or position in life, the self-discovery of your inherent leadership potential and an understanding of who you are and what you are meant to be are the keys to fulfilling your purpose for existence as a leader. People are inspired and influenced through your passion. Therefore title, position and power cannot make you a true leader.