Leadership is a deeply personal and dynamic art.
Each leader has their own personality, values and experiences and ends up adopting a style that reflects who they are and how they prefer to influence. Understanding the different leadership styles and, more importantly, identifying your own, is crucial to creating real impact in the organization and in the lives of the people around you.
Leading starts with being authentic, understanding who you are and what you want to give to the world.
What is a leadership style?
Leadership style is the set of behaviors and practices that a leader adopts to inspire, manage and achieve results with their team.
Successful leaders start with purpose, putting into practice styles that are aligned with the organizational culture and people’s needs.
Main leadership styles
Here are six leadership styles, with some examples and practical insights:
1. transformational leadership
Inspired by visionary leaders like Nelson Mandela, this style focuses on transforming people and organizations, driving significant change.
- Characteristics: inspiration, innovation and motivation.
- How to apply: build a clear vision for the future and involve your team in the process of change.
- Benefit: high involvement and commitment.
2. Servant Leadership
Popularized by Robert Greenleaf and applied by executives such as Howard Schultz (Starbucks), this style prioritizes serving the team before anything else.
- Characteristics: empathy, active listening and focus on people.
- How to apply: ask employees what they need to thrive and remove barriers to success.
- Benefit: creates trust and a collaborative working environment.
3. Situational leadership
This style, developed by Hersey and Blanchard, adjusts to the specific needs of each employee or situation.
- Characteristics: flexibility and adaptation.
- How to apply: assess the maturity and competence of the team before defining its level of direction or support.
- Benefit: develops skills and autonomy.
4. Democratic leadership
Promoted by leaders such as Satya Nadella (Microsoft), this style values team participation in decisions.
- Characteristics: collaboration and inclusion.
- How to apply: hold meetings to hear different perspectives before making decisions.
- Benefit: greater creativity and involvement.
5. Authentic Leadership
Rooted in authenticity and self-expression, authentic leaders like Oprah Winfrey inspire confidence by being vulnerable and true to themselves.
- Characteristics: transparency, solid values and consistency.
- How to apply: communicate your intentions and decisions clearly and honestly.
- Benefit: deeper and longer-lasting relationships.
6. Enlightened Leadership
This style is the fusion of self-knowledge with a greater purpose. Inspired by leaders who see beyond short-term metrics, she recognizes human complexity and focuses on creating positive and sustainable impact. Arianna Huffington is an example, advocating that leaders should prioritize well-being, a culture of rest and emotional healing, in work environments that promote a balance between the personal and professional.
- Characteristics: purpose, empathy, social impact and alignment between the personal and professional sides.
- How to apply: practice active listening, recognize the human dimensions of the team and act as a mentor.
- Benefit: deep involvement and building an organizational culture based on values and a shared mission.
Why is it important to identify your leadership style?
Identifying your style is not only a practice of self-knowledge, but also a competitive advantage in today’s market.
A leader who understands their strengths can maximize results while creating positive and healthy environments. Furthermore, leadership styles can and should evolve over time. The best leaders are those who develop a hybrid approach, adapting to internal and external changes.
Reflection: what’s your style?
To discover your leadership style:
- Do a self-analysis: how do you make decisions? How do you manage your team?
- Seek feedback: ask your colleagues/peers and collaborators how they perceive your style.
- Experiment: Adapt different approaches in different situations and see what works best.
Being a good leader doesn’t mean adopting a single style, but rather integrating the best of each approach with authenticity and purpose. After all, as Simon Sinek says: “Leadership is not about being the best. It’s about making others feel at their best.”
