Management Style

In the concept of Management Style , autocratic management style could be one of the oldest style in managing people. From the ascent days of building a Pyramid in Egypt and the Great Wall in China, the commander then gave stunt instruction to the “worker” who are forced to do the job. They do not allow any objection to their instructions for fear of lost of controlling power and they may influence the rest of the “workers”. It is also the in which the only style of managing the “workers”. The commanders will punished any
worker” which refused their instructions. With this punishment, it build fear in them and hence reduced direct conflicts with the commander.

In the 70′s when I started work as an apprentice in a British own mining company, I used to receive instruction from my supervisor without any question asked. They also do not expect any question anyway. I did not know any of the management style then as I was newly work in that environment. Now I think about, this is an autocratic management style of control his pool of workers.I noticed all the rest of the supervisor in different section adopt the similar approach. Just Do, don’t Ask Question” is the call of the day.

In modern business today, autocratic management style still in practice perhaps at different degree. Modern managers are well educated and aware of this management style. However, there are still many cases where this management style still exist. Take for example;

A managers work in an office and wanted his secretary to get a file for company which had a cases of complaint 6 months ago. The case was closed and the file was kept in a document cabinet in a storeroom.  You needed the file to make some reference. You ask the secretary to get it for you. What kind of instruction would you give ?

1)   Miss secretary, please get me the complaint file for ABC company in the document cabinet !

Well, I believed most of us use the above statement to ask for the file. Did you leave any room for discussion? or seek opinion? Is it necessary if the secretary is a long service staff with you

Perhaps, you approach slightly differently if the secretary is new to your office by asking: ” The complain file of ABC company is in the document cabinet, please get it for me”

The above examples are instruction given directly to the secretary to get the file. This is a style that you do not seek opinion to ge a job done. This is autocratic management style but don’t seem to have negative effect.