Leading Together
Imagine a workplace where one voice dominates, decisions flow top-down without room for challenge, and teams operate in silos.
This authoritarian leadership style might seem like a relic of a past era and yet there some pockets in our world today where this style of leadership still persists.
We live in a very fast-paced and interconnected world today where it’s increasingly clear that this kind of model has no place in modern businesses. Not only is it outdated, but it actively stifles the growth, innovation, and resilience that an organisation would need to thrive.
If we can be honest with ourselves, since the Covid lockdowns of 2020/21, many employees and employers have woken up to realise that work is no longer just transactional. People are looking for meaning, empowerment, and a voice and authoritarian leadership works against these needs by discouraging collaboration and autonomy.
Instead of a thriving environment of ideas and creativity, this kind of leadership breeds fear, discouragement, and stagnation. When people are only expected to follow orders, they miss out on valuable insights and diverse perspectives that could lead to breakthrough innovations.
Considering a recent study by Deloitte that found that organisations fostering collaborative, inclusive cultures are twice as likely to outperform competitors, it’s no surprise that in places where this is the case, the leaders there don’t dictate from a distance. They listen, they mentor and they empower. They understand that today’s workforce is skilled, informed and capable of bringing extraordinary insights to the table. Leadership, then, becomes more about facilitating and less about controlling the outcome.
This isn’t to say that leadership shouldn’t be directive when necessary, but direction can be inclusive. Leadership should be about harnessing collective intelligence, inspiring trust, and creating the space for each person to contribute to the larger mission.
If we truly want to harness the full potential of our organisations, we need to consider breaking away from authoritarianism and embracing a kind of leadership that is transparent, inclusive, and adaptable. We need to champion a new model that values collaboration over control, conversation over command.
When leaders are willing to step off the pedestal and walk alongside their teams, they create cultures that are resilient, responsive, and ready to meet the future with open minds and strong hearts.
In short, authoritarian leadership may deliver short-term compliance but it will never build the kind of resilient, innovative, and sustainable businesses that define the best of today’s modern era. Empowerment is where true growth, for both people and business, can truly begin.