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Compare and Contrast Autocratic and Democratic Leadership Styles

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Compare and Contrast Autocratic and Democratic Leadership Styles
Autocratic leadership is a classical leadership style with the following characteristics: manager seeks to make as many decisions as possible, manager seeks to have the most authority and control in decision making, manager seeks to retain responsibility rather than utilise complete delegation , consultation with other colleagues in minimal and decision making becomes a solitary process managers are less concerned with investing their own leadership development, and prefer to simply work on the task at hand. Whereas Democratic Leadership is the leadership style that promotes the sharing of responsibility, the exercise of delegation and continual consultation. The style has the following characteristics: manager seeks consultation on all major issues and decisions, manager effectively delegate tasks to subordinates and give them full control and responsibility for those tasks, manager welcomes feedback on the results of intiatives and the work environment and manager encourages others to become leaders and be involved in leadership development.

The Autocratic leadership style approach is when the leader of the group (director, supervisor and etc.) makes all decisions by himself/herself, defining by himself/herself all the activities of subordinates and refusing any initiative from them. The Democratic leadership style approach is when the leader of the group involves subordinates in decision-making process based on group discussions, stimulating their activity and sharing the decision-making authority with them.

Autocratic leadership style is more aggressive comparing to the democratic style. The Autocratic leader alone determines the direction of the department or organization by making decisions and in many ways this style allows to achieve great results and productivity.
The autocratic leadership style is seen as an old fashioned technique. It has existed as long as managers have commanded subordinates, and is still employed by many leaders across the

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