Best Degrees & Careers for Autocratic Leadership Style

The autocratic leadership style can benefit companies because of its strict guidelines and streamlined decision-making process. The best degrees for autocratic leadership to earn are in business, computer science, and project management while the best careers to pursue are ones where you'll be in control instead of creative.

From company to company, the decision-making process will vary. Some companies will have boards and committees in place to ensure that all team members' voices are heard. Other companies though use centralized leadership, such as autocratic leadership.

There are advantages to each style of leadership, and some companies benefit from having a single, clear leader. Leaders of this style might want to choose certain degrees and careers to maximize their leadership skills.

What Is Autocratic Leadership?

Autocratic leadership comes from Greek derivatives that mean 'government of oneself.' In business, this management style often means that a company has a single decision-maker, as opposed to a leadership team.

This isn't to say that there isn't a chain of command with middle and lower managers, but the final decision is left up to a single leader.

Best Degrees for the Autocratic Leadership Style

The autocratic leadership style isn't always suited for every business situation, but several specific degrees will set people up to use this leadership style in their day-to-day work.

Business

Business degrees can help prepare graduates for leadership roles in a variety of situations. For many students, a bachelor's degree will be enough to enter a management role, but for people pursuing a role in senior management where they will be able to use an autocratic leadership style, they should pursue a master's degree (MBA).

Computer Science

Even though software development is often the result of work done by multiple group members, the team lead often is more of an autocratic leader. To set yourself up for a leadership role in this field, you'll need a degree in computer science, usually a master's level degree.

Project Management

Degrees in project management might just be the best degree for people with an autocratic leadership style. Project managers, both in the public and private sector, are responsible for all aspects of completing a project on time and budget. This will often require them to take a more autocratic role.

Best Careers for the Autocratic Leadership Style

Careers well suited for an autocratic leadership style require a lot of control and little creativity or innovation.

If you have an autocratic leadership style or thrive under this leadership method, some careers to consider include:

Traits of an Autocratic Leader

The characteristics of autocratic leadership are usually more in line with an authoritarian style of leadership. This means that the leader has traits that sometimes disregard the feelings and thoughts of others.

Autocratic leaders have several common traits, such as:

adhering to strict guidelines
being decisive with quick decision-making
remaining strong in a crisis
focusing on perfection

Historical and Modern Examples of Autocratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership throughout history is usually associated solely with dictators and authoritarian leaders. Countries and businesses that employ democratic leadership have little to no use for autocratic leaders.

Some examples of autocratic leaders throughout history include:

Napoleon Bonaparte: Napoleon was an emperor and military strategist who relied heavily on an autocratic style for both his military and governmental leadership.
Queen Elizabeth I: Queen Elizabeth's autocratic powers extended beyond her role as monarch to also include the Church of England. Her reign was a perfect example of the singular rule of autocracy.
Steve Jobs: Although he was never a political leader, Jobs displayed many traits of autocratic leadership in the strict way he ran Apple. Even though Apple was a leader in innovation during his time with the company, which is often not the case with autocratic companies, Jobs was known to be extremely strict and controlling.
Elon Musk: Tesla has been a leader in innovation within the electric car space but, like Jobs at Apple, Musk uses autocratic leadership to force his company to try to innovate and create.

Being an autocrat doesn't always mean you're a cruel dictator�many of the most famous autocratic leaders in history are CEOs and other strict managers. These leaders leave little room for independence and create a very strict work environment.

The Pros and Cons of Autocratic Leadership

Although many of history's most famous autocratic leaders are not viewed favorably, there are advantages of autocratic leadership for businesses that can outweigh the cons and potential harms.

Advantages of Embracing an Autocratic Style

Autocracy, in corporate structure, has advantages compared to a democratic leadership approach. Having a single person with decision-making power can streamline the problem-solving process.

Many of the benefits of autocratic leadership revolve around the concept of having a single person responsible for decisions and actions. When fewer people are involved in approving decisions, action can be taken much faster.

Because there is only one chief leader, there is also a streamlined chain of command for employees to understand and less demand for multiple high-paid executives.

This autocratic leadership works best in companies that need repeated delivery of goods or specific tasks, due to the strict nature of this type of leadership.

Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership

Many of the advantages of having an autocratic leadership role can quickly become disadvantages.

The strict work environment that is emblematic of authoritarian leadership often makes employees feel like they have no input or say regarding innovation or processes which can lead to low employee morale and high turnover.

Autocracy is inherently strict, which benefits companies that have a focus on consistent repetitive production, but companies that have autocratic leadership styles are rarely innovative. Although there are examples of companies like Tesla, Apple, and more that have autocratic leaders and continue to innovate, most companies that have a heavy focus on creativity employ democratic leadership.

Practical Applications of Autocratic Leadership

The practical applications of autocratic leadership include crisis management and providing a clear organizational structure. Companies trying to turn themselves around after economic hardship can benefit from a more autocratic style of leadership.

Autocratic leaders also are beneficial for companies that are trying to reduce costs. Having a team of managers and executives increases overhead and can slow down production, ultimately costing more money than having a single leader to approve business decisions.

What Is the Difference Between Autocratic and Democratic Leadership?

Autocratic and democratic leadership are both valid corporate structures, but they differ in several key ways.

Primarily, a democratic leader, even if they are a singular executive, will have to answer to a board, other leaders, or some other group of stakeholders. Conversely, an autocratic leader has no checks and balances to their power. This difference in centralization highlights the differences between the two leadership styles.

Democratic leadership styles are also more innovative, usually, due to their additional input and considerations taken from people across the corporate structure.

Should You Adopt an Autocratic Leadership Style?

Adopting an autocratic leadership style has multiple advantages, but switching to this leadership style shouldn't be done lightly.

Primarily, consider your company's production and output goals. If you plan on being innovative or changing product or service offerings regularly, it will be harder and less advantageous to use an autocratic leadership style.

If your company is looking to streamline production and provide consistent quality or limited services, having a single decision-maker can help keep the process running smoothly.

You also should consider your employees. Many employees struggle under autocratic leaders because they feel like their voices aren't heard and their well-being is ignored. You might see increased turnover and decreased morale in the strict work environment of autocracy.