Autocratic leadership is a management style where one person has complete authoritarian control over a team in a work environment. Autocratic leaders make all the decisions and take very little input from other group members. They tend to make choices based on their own ideas alone and do not listen to their team or seek input from others. Autocratic leaders are commonly referred to as "authoritarian" leaders. This leadership style is characterized by individual control over all decisions. Autocratic leaders demand unquestionable obedience from subordinates and assert absolute authority and control over them.

The autocratic leadership style works well if the leader is competent and knowledgeable enough to decide about each and every item under their control. It is considered one of the most effective leadership styles in the event of an emergency where quick decisions need to be taken. Autocratic leadership works best in situations that require error-free performance, immediate/urgent decision-making, and task completion within a deadline. Some examples of where autocratic leadership works best are emergency cases, time-sensitive tasks, and when working with inexperienced teams.

However, autocratic leadership can have negative impacts on employees and the organization if it is implemented poorly. Autocratic leaders are stereotyped as bossy, brutal, and lacking empathy. Their absolute power can be intimidating and strike fear. Autocratic leadership can lead to high attrition, fear among employees, and drive discontent if used outside of an applicable context. An autocratic leadership work environment is not for the individual who wants to be creative, innovative, or have a say in how things are done.

In summary, autocratic leadership is a management style where one person has complete authoritarian control over a team in a work environment. Autocratic leaders make all the decisions and take very little input from other group members. This leadership style works best in situations that require error-free performance, immediate/urgent decision-making, and task completion within a deadline. However, it can have negative impacts on employees and the organization if it is implemented poorly.