Characteristics Of Autocratic Leadership Style

Autocratic leaders uses an authoritarian manner and dictates what is going on without consulting athletes. It is characterised by absolute individual control over group members and very little input from them in the decision making process. If the autocratic leader is the most knowledgeable person in the group it usually leads to fast, effective decisions being made. This type of leadership best suits athletes who are in need of support and answers. This is because this leadership style prevents a person from doing their own thing and they are solely guided by what the leader does. It best suits those who highly value extrinsic motivation because with the leader having all decision making power the athlete is motivated not by themselves but

It combines elements of an absolute authoritarian manner in decision making with the elements of consulting and asking group members to be a part of the decision making process. Although decisions are partially controlled by group members, the leader is there to offer guidance and still hold final decision making power. This type of leadership style suits athletes who have their own answers to share with the group because if they disagree with the coach they have the opportunity to voice their opinion and create their own solution or prove a point instead of having to abide by whatever the coach demands even if they dislike it. It also satisfies the needs of athletes who are intrinsically motivated. This is due to their being less of an emphasis on authoritarian control, athletes are unable to get all their motivation extrinsically from that source (Leader) so athletes must have motivation from intrinsic sources if this leadership style is going to

Dominant leadership style.

The dominant leadership style adopted by Coach Boone is an autocratic leadership style. There is no doubt that Coach Boone is at the top of this football food chain and his dominance and control is readily displayed in the team atmosphere.

The first sign is Coach Boone’s first team meeting in the school gym (approximately 0:12:00). He lays down the law for the training camp and season, “We leave for camp, Gettysburg College. August 15th 7:29AM. If you report at 7:30 you WILL not be playing football this season”. There is emphasis on ‘will’ because it outlines that there will be no exception or excuse that would alter his decision, his decision is final. He makes them aware that “This is no democracy, it is a dictatorship. I am the law”. Laws cannot be evaded and his decisions as a coach will not be either. (A dictatorship is very closely related to the elements of autocratic