Authoritarians Talks

An authoritarian (paternalistic, top-down, coercive, autocratic) leadership style is described as being as "leaders' behavior that asserts absolute authority and control over subordinates and [that] demands unquestionable obedience from subordinates." Such a leader has full control of the team, leaving low autonomy within the group. The group is expected to complete the tasks under very close supervision, while unlimited authority is self-bestowed by the leader. Subordinates' responses to the orders given are either punished or rewarded. A way that those that have authoritarian leadership behaviors tend to lean more on "...unilateral decision-making through the leader and strive to maintain the distance between the leader and his or her followers."

EBSCO Information Services contrasts authoritarian with democratic (participative), and laissez-faire (delegative) leadership styles. Based on Max Weber, Bernard Bass added the transactional leadership style of motivation by rewards and punishments.

From Authoritarian leadership style on Wikipedia