For most leaders, micromanagement isn’t a quirk or something you’re guilty of on a bad day. It’s almost always a symptom of a much deeper issue, like autocratic leadership.

In this article, we’ll discuss what autocratic leadership is, how it manifests micromanagement, and how to shift from autocratic to adaptive as a leader. Drawing inspiration from our Leadership Styles Masterclass, the goal is to help you lead with exception instead of control, so you and your team can move forward together.

Let’s kick things off with a definition.

What is The Meaning of Autocratic Leadership?

Autocratic leadership is top-down and structured around a singular way of thinking, the leader’s way.

The leader makes the decisions, they set the direction, and they expect complete buy-in from team members, no matter what. In an autocratic environment, collaboration is a dirty word, and staff can forget about any notion of independent thought.

Since autocratic leaders don’t trust their team to get things done, and because they think they know best, they interfere constantly. This is micromanaging in a nutshell and a key feature of the autocratic leadership style, with one person behind every decision and checking every detail.

This approach stifles progress and builds a culture of dependency that holds everybody back. And while some autocratic leaders think they’re being helpful, they’re really breeding low confidence and building a culture where initiative is left at the door.

Micromanagement in Leadership and the Hidden Cost of Control

Leadership micromanagement slows everything down, creates bottlenecks, and depletes morale. It’s a roundabout way of telling your team “I know more than you”, and even if you’re trying to show support, the outcome is generally negative.

When leaders get stuck in the micromanaging mindset, they make much work for themselves and review actions that simply don’t need reviewing. They also try to fix issues before anybody has chance to fix them themselves, which over time, teaches staff to do nothing without approval.

All of this creates stagnation and removes ownership from team members, which means goodbye to creativity, too.

Have you found yourself falling into the leadership micromanagement trap? Surely there’s another way, right?

How to Shift from Autocratic to Adaptive Leadership

Leading by exception means trusting your people to do their jobs and only stepping in when you’re truly needed.

Of course, you’re still in charge and define what success looks like, so it’s not about being passive. It’s about establishing a solid foundation of standards and letting your team reach the destination in their own way, using the skills you hired them for.

This creates a shift from autocratic to adaptive leadership, a characteristic you’ll find in the most effective leadership styles like the Navigator or Mentor, which you can read about in our recent leadership style and employee performance article.

How to Stop Micromanaging and Switch Your Leadership Style

Want to know how to stop micromanaging? The first step is self-awareness, which is where our world-class leadership assessment can help you identify those pesky blind spots. And yes, we all have them.

Because it isn’t just autocratic leaders who can be guilty of micromanaging. Relentless leaders who chase perfection can end up being control freaks when the pressure is on, too, as can many other leaders.

Struggling to identify where you’re at? We’ve got your back with a simple tool.

Leadership Journaling: A Simple Way to Rethink Leadership

Micromanagement often feels productive and even necessary, but it usually reveals a lack of trust in your team and/or yourself. That’s why leadership journaling can be so effective, giving you the opportunity to get out of your own head and reflect intentionally on ways you can improve.

Next time you find yourself potentially micromanaging, ask yourself:

• Could this decision be made by somebody else?
• Is this a good use of my time?
• Who on my team is ready for more autonomy?

If you don’t know the answers yet, don’t panic. That’s why we journal. Take a look at our complimentary leadership journaling prompts to inspire you to move forward.

Final Thoughts: Control Feels Comfortable, But It’s Not Leadership

A fundamental marker of strong leadership is empowering others to excel rather than doing everything yourself. To get to this hallowed state of leadership Nirvana, avoid autocratic tendencies like the plague, ditch the micromanagement, and manage by exception instead of control.

Because while an autocratic leadership style often feels necessary for leaders, it can soon become isolating and exhausting. Worst of all? It holds your team back. Instead, you should be aiming to delegate trust in people, build systems, and develop teams who can perform within them.

What’s Your Leadership Style? Find Out In Our Leadership Styles Masterclass

In our Leadership Styles masterclass, you’ll explore six globally-recognized leadership styles commonly seen in organizations today - what they communicate to your team, which ones to master, which to retire, and how to adapt your approach to lead with more impact. Secure your spot here.