School Building Leader (SBL) Practice Exam 2025 - Free SBL Practice Questions and Study Guide

The main drawback of an authoritarian leadership style is a lack of commitment from team members. This leadership approach often relies on top-down decision-making, where the leader exerts significant control over their team and makes decisions without soliciting input or feedback from them. While this can lead to quick task completion and efficient information dissemination, it generally does not foster a sense of ownership or investment in the work among team members. When individuals feel that they do not have a voice in the decision-making process, their motivation and engagement can suffer, leading to reduced commitment to the team's goals and initiatives.

In contrast, high commitment and a rapid flow of information are characteristics more associated with participative or democratic leadership styles, where collaboration and input from all members are encouraged. The ability to accomplish tasks quickly can be seen as a benefit of authoritarian leadership, but it often comes at the cost of decreased morale and buy-in from the staff, which is ultimately detrimental in the long run.