The Autocratic Leader

1. Introduction to Autocratic LeadershipThere be several effective leadership styles utilise to run organizations. The autocratic style basically tells employees what to do. This style is defined as excessively demanding, with one way of communication-from management to employee. Managers possess the power to coerce subordinates to action the mission. Decision making comes from the leader(s) and the opinion or input of the employee is not considered. Nevertheless, autocratic leadership can be useful in certain situations or lineaments of businesses. At times, management must utilize this type of leadership to achieve important goals.2. Martha Stewart An Autocratic LeaderAutocratic leadership is a management style that places mechanical press on employees to produce a product, service or image. This style is reminiscent of a dictatorship but in some businesses or military organizations, this type of leadership is necessary. Many employees have worked with an authoritarian man ager and are employ to it, require it, and even expect it. A good example of an autocratic leader is Martha Stewart who has built an empire based on her teaching techniques for simplicity and creativity in the home cooking, crafts, finding the perfect housewares, etc. all accomplished with bully attention to detail.Whether people have admired Martha Stewart or not, one cannot argue that she has remained careful, consistent and demanding of her employees. Shes very successful in nearly all of her endeavors, and often, if not always, has used an autocratic management style. Its common knowledge that its her autocratic leadership style that has made her a success in nearly every form of media. Martha Stewarts critics (who are many) argue that she would have found even more success had she not relied so heavily on the autocratic style of leadership.3. Autocratic Leadership in the Group Project SettingAnother circumstance where autocratic leadership can be helpful is while working on g roup projects. When a group has no designated leader, a project can fail. When each group member expresses their own opinions and tenaciously holds to them, conflict is sure to arise. In this circumstance, project superior may suffer or literally come to a standstill. Groups need an autocratic leader who can hold to the decisions made by or for the group. The leader should seek for solutions to problems that arise in the project and then delegate the task to the members of the group. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, Inc., was a very successful autocratic leader. He was typically definitive and made every major final decision for Apple.Some argue that autocratic leadership can never lead to success its controlling and merely based on the personality and style of the manager. But an effective autocratic leader can achieve great success in bringing a project to completion. During the first stages of developing an entrepreneurial organization, implementing an autocratic leadership styl e will enable the company to have and keep direction and momentum. A leader who is autocratic should apply his/her style wisely and with trepidation.