Leadership is an integral part of any successful organization, and authoritative leadership is one of the most important elements for a team to function effectively. Authoritative leadership is a style of leadership in which the leader emphasizes their position of authority and focus on the rules, regulations, and expectations of their team. It is a type of leadership that relies heavily on the leader’s ability to command the respect and admiration of their team members through the use of motivational techniques. With authoritative leadership, the leader is expected to take a firm stance and be able to direct the team in a decisive manner. Authoritative leadership style can be beneficial in certain situations, but can also be seen as overly controlling or restrictive if it is not utilized correctly. In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of authoritative leadership, and provide tips and guidance on how to become an effective authoritative leader.
Types of authoritative leadership
The four major types of authoritative leadership are:
Intimidation
This type of manager moves people into action through sternness. These managers hold their teams to very high standards.
Reflection
This style of authoritative leadership gives more weight to wisdom gained through experience. They address all employees based on prior solutions and apply their knowledge to problems that arise. They guide their teams by sharing lessons they’ve learned in the past, rather than leading through anger, sternness, or intimidation. Reflective leaders choose the best course of action for the entire team, advancing them closer to success.
Adaption
Some leaders alter their approach to each situation. For example, some employees only respond to stern feedback. They need a sense of intimidation to improve. Others respond better to calm guidance and reflection. In other instances, it simply depends on the circumstances at hand. A flexible leader alters their strategy as necessary to accommodate their team members’ needs.
Reaction
Reactive authorities feel the need to overcompensate in order to demonstrate their authority. Their management style is quite intense, responding sternly to employee grievances. This often encourages employees to work harder and more efficiently.
What is authoritative leadership?
An authoritative management style is one in which the leader has total authority. An authoritative leader is one who establishes the objectives, chooses the procedures, and monitors all actions necessary to achieve those objectives with little to no input from the team. Authoritative leadership drives organizations and their employees toward common goals. These leaders guide and coach their team members through every stage of their processes in order to achieve success.
The main distinction between an authoritative and an authoritarian leader is that after demonstrating how to complete a task, an authoritative leader lets their team members finish it on their own. By doing so, creativity and fresh approaches to completing daily tasks are sparked.
How to be an authoritative leader
Use these steps to become an authoritative leader:
1. Define your purpose
What leadership qualities do you bring to the organization? Identify your strengths and weaknesses and assess your overall ability. By performing these exercises, you can clarify your managerial goals. Your goal, for instance, might be to support and mentor staff in being their best As an alternative, you might want to make sure that your department receives the highest marks. Perspective helps to define your purpose.
2. Set your parameters
Consider your parameters, especially regarding boundaries and accountability. Consider how far you would go to assist a worker or ensure that they perform at their best. Write down your responses and compare them to organizational objectives to see how well the two align. Before continuing to the next step, your parameters must be adjusted if they do not fit well with the company’s standards and goals.
3. Engage with your employees
Push yourself to remain on the floor with your employees rather than remaining in your office. Watch what theyre doing and get involved where necessary. Ask them how you can make processes better for them. Make every effort to participate in your team’s activities so that you can better understand what happens on a daily basis.
4. Explain your reasoning
Be open and honest with a specific employee when a problem arises and explain your thinking to them. Explain the situation calmly, including when a problem arose and how you found it. Help the employee comprehend how to handle the situation more effectively going forward by doing this. Rather than scold them, ensure they learn something new.
5. Reflect on the situation
Take some time to consider issues after you’ve attempted your best to solve them. Think about what went wrong initially and what you can do to avoid a situation similar to it. Also, consider how you addressed the problem with the employee. Keep them in mind the next time you interact with an employee if there were any instances that could have been improved.
Benefits of authoritative leadership
Some of the advantages of authoritative leadership include:
Reduced number of mistakes
Errors are less likely to occur when there are clear rules for employees to follow under a strict leader. Authoritative managers invest time in training their staff on how to handle various situations. They draw on past expertise in building teams to be more effective, productive, and secure.
Boosted productivity
Employees can concentrate more on completing their daily tasks when processes are clearly laid out for them. They devote more time to creating and finishing their work rather than worrying about potential issues.
Improved decision making
Authoritative leaders often make decisions on their own. Instead of talking to staff members or other managers, they make the fastest and most efficient decision. In times of crisis or high stress, this method of decision-making is effective. Organizations require leaders who can remain rational in challenging situations.
When to use authoritative leadership
Authoritative leadership works well for meeting urgent needs quickly. It functions best when there is an immediate need for a solution. This kind of leadership boosts productivity just before deadlines and enhances decision-making in delays or other similar circumstances. Additionally, when there is little room for error, authoritative leadership excels. This kind of leader may make quick decisions, but they are all very wise decisions. Employees need a strong leader in positions where there is a high risk of injury to direct them properly and instill the level of care and detail required.
Autocratic Leadership Style
FAQ
Who is an example of authoritative leadership?
Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Bill Gates, Kim Jong-un, Larry Ellison, Lorne Michaels, Richard Nixon, and Vladimir Putin are some examples of leaders who have practiced authoritarian rule.
What are the 4 types of leadership?
- Autocratic.
- Democratic.
- Laissez-faire.
- Transformational.
Is authoritarian leadership effective?
By demonstrating its detrimental impact on employee outcomes like employee voice behavior (Li and Sun, 2015), team identification (Cheng and Wang, 2015), and job performance (Chan et al. ), extensive research has demonstrated the destructive nature of authoritarian leadership. , 2013).
