Certified Hospitality Manager (CHM) Practice Exam

Does using an autocratic management style mean a manager lacks emotional intelligence?

1. Yes, it always indicates a lack of emotional intelligence

2. No, autocratic style does not exclude emotional intelligence

3. It depends on the team dynamics

4. Only in large organizations

The correct answer is: No, autocratic style does not exclude emotional intelligence

An autocratic management style does not inherently indicate a lack of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence encompasses a range of skills, including self-awareness, empathy, and social skills, which can coexist with various management styles, including autocratic leadership. A manager may adopt an autocratic approach due to the specific demands of a situation, such as time constraints, crisis management, or when decisive leadership is required. In this context, a manager can be aware of their team's emotions and responses, making informed decisions that consider the emotional climate of the workplace, even while maintaining a strict authority. Thus, while an autocratic style may limit team input in decision-making, it does not automatically negate the manager's ability to understand and respond to emotional cues from their team members. Therefore, the assertion that a manager employing an autocratic style must lack emotional intelligence is inaccurate. The other choices do not adequately capture the relationship between management style and emotional intelligence. For instance, stating that it always indicates a lack of emotional intelligence is overly simplistic. Suggesting that it depends on team dynamics introduces ambiguity, as team dynamics can vary widely and do not directly correlate with emotional intelligence. Likewise, asserting that this only pertains to large organizations overlooks the fact that emotional intelligence is applicable in various organizational