History is filled with the stories of Autocrats. Thomas Durant managed construction the Union Pacific’s transcontinental railroad. As described in my new book, Crossing the Continent, his character was typical of this autocratical style of leadership.
“His manner of dealing with a complex situation was not to thread his way through the maze of possibilities but rather to sweep along with him everyone and everything that might be useful, leaving conflicts and choices to be sorted out later. Action, and not direction, was his forte. He longed to be at the center of events, barking orders to and demanding absolute obedience from subordinates whom he kept in ignorance of his true design. Often, he did not know himself what his ultimate design was. Like an inept monarch, he was more certain of his authority than of his policy and had a tendency to heed the last voice that advised him. The result was a pattern of frenzied activity riddled with false starts, wasted motion, confusion, and contradiction followed by hesitation, uncertainly, and delay. Fueled by nervous energy, Durant was a whirlwind blowing furiously, wreaking havoc in its wake before dying away.”
Maury Klein. Union Pacific: Volume I, 1862-1893