Conjure with the word 'dictator' and no doubt images of Colonel Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein or Robert Mugabe spring to mind. It's not a cosy word or one that many business leaders would wish to openly apply to their own place of work, however styles of management and leadership can make or break a team and what works for one business can quickly undermine another.
So how do you know what type of leader is best for your business?

With thirteen years' headhunting experience, Collingwood Search and Selection's Managing Director Doug Mackay has witnessed many organisations falling foul of recruitment pitfalls. 
 
"Some leaders are natural dictators, or autocrats, and others are democrats, both have their benefits, but it's crucial that a company knows what will work best for them before embarking on the recruitment process," he said.
 
Headhunting Experts at Collingwood understand that it is not enough to simply find a candidate with the required skills and experience but that they must also integrate and fit culturally in the workplace. If that doesn't happen, the results can be disastrous.
 
"We were asked to step in to help a business whose appointment of a new managing director had gone awry. The outgoing MD was an acknowledged 'dictator' but employees knew what was expected of them and were happy to be tightly managed," said Doug.
 
"When he left, the company appointed a 'democrat' because the board felt it was time for a change of leadership style. The problem was that the senior management team, used to being led by the hand, couldn't cope with the increased level of freedom and responsibility. Internal problems began to cripple the business and the new MD was blamed, but it wasn't his fault."  The wrong type of leader had been appointed for the behaviours of managers in place.
 
It was only when Collingwood identified the real problem, through its People Assessment Services, that changes to the senior management team were made and the issues began to be resolved.
 
"What the company really needed was another dictator because it's very hard to go from one style to the other. They failed to do their research and instead lost the senior management team, causing endless damage and unnecessary cost to the business," said Doug. It put the company back quite a number of years.
 
"The most important part of our search is the preparation. We get to know the client's business, understand what they need and develop assessments that will bring the right person to the fore."
 
The pros and cons of a dictatorship

    Fast decision-making
    Productive workforce (while the dictator is watching)
    Employees know what is expected of them
    Motivated leader (who thrives being in control)
    Employees are deprived of responsibility and development
    Increased workload for the manager
    Teams become dependent on their leader
    Employees unwilling to be dictated to

 The pros and cons of a democracy

    A positive working environment
    Increased creativity
    Collective responsibility
    Reduced staff turnover
    Lengthy decision making process
    Reliance on clear communication


Whatever your business needs, our specialist headhunters have a track record in identifying and assessing the right people. Please call one of our consultants on 01829 732374 or click here to find out more about us.