What is the difference between autocratic and participative leadership style?

When working on a team project, it helps to be aware of how different leadership styles can affect the overall group dynamic. Some teams may find authoritarian leadership more helpful, while others may prefer a more collaborative approach. To figure out which style of management is best for your team, read about the key differences in authoritarian leadership and participatory management below.

The Authoritarian Approach

In authoritarian or “autocratic” leadership, a single person is put in charge of the entire group. This leader makes all the decisions for the group and is allowed a greater measure of control over all those who work beneath him or her. The team leader does not seek out advice or counsel from their fellow workers, and those workers in turn must trust their leader to point them in the right direction.

Authoritarian leadership can be a strong and efficient way of getting projects done, especially under a tight deadline. However, this type of leadership can be alienating to employees who feel that their value is going unnoticed. Studies on autocratic leadership have shown drops in team morale over time, as a well as tendencies of absenteeism and general lackluster performance among staff. When the staff in question is largely untrained and inexperienced, more time tends to be wasted by the autocratic method. When the staff is experienced and used to working together in an efficient way, the autocratic method can serve as a way of getting a job done in a brisk and deadline-oriented manner. This method was favored in the workplace up until the ‘70s, when more collaborative leadership styles came into vogue. Today, the authoritarian method can still prove productive in situations where team members are goal-oriented, well-trained and respectful of their chosen team leader.

The Participatory Approach

Participatory management is a more collaborative approach to team projects. For this method, team members have an equal say in what happens, and can each contribute to the work in their own way, without having to answer to one specific leader. This can be extremely helpful when the members of a team respect and encourage each other to be honest, and remain open to trying new leadership styles and problem solving techniques. In participatory management,  a manager is chosen to oversee the group, but this role is less a leadership position than a peer guide, someone who takes each individual suggestion into account and welcomes feedback from each group member.

By focusing on the group rather than the individual, participatory management stresses the idea that in the absence of one clear leader, the group as a whole may serve as system of checks and balances. Early studies of collaborative workplaces dating back to the ‘20s have found that a group performs better when each of its members feels the responsibility of being monitored for progress. This is known as the Hawthorne effect. Because of this self-checking tendency, participatory management is also known as “democratic” management. The participatory method is favored by many modern-day businesses. However, it can prove less helpful when decisions must be made quickly and projects executed without any time to spare.

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Main Difference

The main difference between Autocratic Leadership and Democratic Leadership is that in Autocratic Leadership, the leader directs the subordinates for the task whereas, in Democratic Leadership, the leader discusses with the team and accomplishes the target.

Difference Between Autocratic Leadership and Democratic Leadership

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership is a style in which the leader tells how to work while in democratic leadership, the leader asks the subordinates and discuss the plans to achieve a target.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership is a directive leadership; on the flip side, democratic leadership is participative leadership.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership’s authority is centralized; a man makes decisions; conversely, in democratic leadership, the decisions circulate in the team, mean the administration is decentralized.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership is oriented about the plans and direction of work; on the other hand, democratic leadership, the primary concern of people, is to develop a good relationship.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership defines the theory X, whereas democratic leadership defines the theory Y.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership impacts the assistants and has strict supervision of work while in democratic leadership, there is flexibility, and the control level is low.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership does not allow subordinates to work according to their desire; on the flip side in democratic leadership, the team members work according to their desires.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership is successful when the juniors are dutiful and not experts in the relevant field, whereas the democratic leadership is successful when the sub-ordinates are professional and have expertise in the work.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership points to the leader as a manager; conversely, in democratic leadership, the person who leads the team is the leader.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership is effective in achieving the future perspective for an organization, while democratic leadership brings the productive and creative work.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership harms the company as it declines the work efficiency of employees, whereas, in democratic leadership, the task remains incomplete.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership does not allow anyone except the manager to express themselves; on the flip side, democratic leadership gives the right to talk to every member.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership gives credit to the only person; on the other hand, in democratic leadership, the credit goes equally to all members.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

In autocratic leadership, the leader motivates the members both by punishment and reward, whereas in democratic leadership, the leader points out the change, and inspires the team to work.

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership is applicable when there is a need for crisis decisions, whereas democratic leadership takes time for decision making cannot be applied in emergencies.

Comparison Chart

Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership

The other name of autocratic leadership is directive leadership. The second name of democratic leadership is participative leadership. Autocratic leadership is the one in which a person holds the whole team, decide a task, and direct the team to accomplish it. In democratic leadership, the leader allows the entire team to discuss and determine how to work. In autocratic leadership, the leader is very strict with his team workers. In democratic leadership, the leader has flexible behavior and inspires the team to work.

In autocratic leadership, the directive person is the manager, whereas the democratic leadership names the person as a leader. Autocratic leadership is successful if the sub-ordinates are obeying all orders of the boss and do not possess experience in the relevant field. The democratic leadership is successful if the team members are experienced and work by coordination. Autocratic leadership concentrates on the task, whereas democratic leadership focuses on good relationships.

Autocratic leadership is beneficial for the accomplishment of the mission and visions of an organization. For productive and creative ideas, democratic leadership is effective. In autocratic leadership, the employees are annoyed about the strict behavior of the boss and do not work correctly. In democratic leadership, there is no restriction; hence the task remained incomplete due to communication mishaps. Autocratic leadership credits only a person, whereas democratic leadership credits the whole team.

What is Autocratic Leadership?

The leadership in which a man holds all the decisions of the organization is called autocratic leadership. The man has qualities to manage the whole organization. The second name of autocratic leadership is authoritarian leadership. The power is centralized; one person makes decisions and direction for implementation by the subordinates. The leader is dominant over the whole group. The assistants do not question any decision and follow it according to given orders.

The autocratic leadership is beneficial for small groups with a leader. It works best in crisis. The decision making is swift, with no time. The company follows its vision quickly. The communication of the team improves. The depression of employees reduces. It demands an inexperienced team. The input of the team in the decision is less. Autocratic leadership leads to micromanagement. The leader forces every member to inform him about every activity, the productivity declines.

Autocratic leadership creates a culture-based difference. Everyone must follow the rules of a leader, whether ethics are valid or not. No one dares to deny to the leader. Every reward and credit go to the leader because he was a decision-maker. There is a deficiency of trust in autocratic leadership. The mistrust between a leader and team members hinder creativity, productivity, and cooperation.

What is Democratic Leadership?

The leadership on which all the working members take part in decisions of the management is called democratic leadership. Its other name is participative management. The ideas and plans are essential for management. There is proper consultation with all sub-ordinates in every matter. The leaders work according to the opinion of the team members. The members have the freedom to talk from the bottom to the top level of the organization. The communication gap between working members reduces. In democratic leadership, the ideas are shared and discussed. Every task is set as the responsibility of every member.

The leader allows the members to be part of the decision-making committee. There is appropriately maintained respect, open communication, and even criticism. The non-profit companies and innovative companies have democratic leaders. This leadership is a source of awareness. Every person can become this leader. Mismanagement can occur due to Republican leadership. Plenty of freedom removes the difference between a leader and team members. It does not promise success after every task. If the population decides, then there is less chance of a positive result.

Conclusion

Autocratic Leadership and Democratic Leadership are both styles of leadership. In Autocratic Leadership, there is no freedom for the assistants to make decisions and express themselves. In Democratic Leadership, the leader allows all members to participate in decision making and express their ideas.