10 Types of Leadership Styles: Which One Defines You Best?

Have you ever noticed how some managers offer step-by-step instructions and others simply guide with fewer instructions? This is because of different types of leadership styles. It is based on how you can lead and monitor your team. Selecting the correct leadership style will help you to make your team feel more confident, cooperate together, and achieve goals faster.

Leadership styles are not about being right or wrong. These styles are about how you introduce yourself in your team and how you get things done. Every leader has their own personality, habits, and style of thinking about how they are going to lead the team, and that is what makes every leadership style different.

In this blog, you will learn about 10 different types of leadership. You will find out what each of the styles means and when it works effectively for the team, and you will also find which one is the best fit for you.

What Are 10 Different Types of Leadership Styles?

Leadership styles are simply the way you lead your team in the workplace. It is all about how you speak to your team, how you make decisions, and how you support your team in their tasks, such as giving direction, solving a problem, or checking that someone is okay.

The same style is not required in all teams or in all situations. There are times when you must make quick decisions. In other situations, you are supposed to ask for advice and communicate with your team. Knowing your leadership style makes it simple for you to lead the team, and you can also be more effective while leading the team.

There are different leadership styles, and every style shows how to lead, guide, and support the team.

Transformational Leadership  

The transformational style of leadership involves encouraging and motivating your team. You focus on bigger goals and new projects and help everyone grow together. It is one of the strongest styles of leadership when you are ready to bring positive changes.  

This is the best leadership style for a manager who likes to lead with energy and vision. This style assists in creating powerful teams and is marked as one of the strongest leadership styles in fast-changing workplaces.  

Transactional Leadership  

Transactional leaders are more focused on order and a set of clear rules for task completion. You offer rewards for good performance and correct the mistakes when the work is not done well. It is among the various types of leadership styles that work well in the same type of work and with the same deadlines.  

In case you are one who values order and efficiency, then this will be the best kind of leadership style for you. It is an effective style that is commonly used in sales, customer care, and large teams that need strong guidance.  

Democratic Leadership  

In democratic leadership, you involve your team in making the decisions, you ask for suggestions, listen actively, and make decisions together. It is one of the most collaborative styles that makes everybody feel appreciated.  

It is a good example if you want to know about your leadership style, in case you believe in teamwork and open communication. Compared to various leadership styles, this one creates a lot of trust, and your team will feel involved and valued.

Autocratic Leadership  

Autocratic leadership is when you take the lead and make decisions on your own, without asking your team. It is a fast-moving style of leadership that is effective in situations that require quick decisions or strict rules.

This style is not always the best leadership style for a manager who likes open feedback, but in high-pressure situations, this is the most efficient style of leadership to get things done quickly. Among the different leadership styles, this will provide you with full control.

Laissez-Faire Leadership  

Laissez-faire is a leadership style that allows your team to decide everything on their own. In case you have confidence in your team's work and do not want to check your team continuously, this type of leadership can be more effective.  

Although that is one of the least stressful leadership styles, it is not the most effective style of leadership when your team needs proper direction. But you can have strong leadership skills and styles when your team needs guidance.  

Servant Leadership  

Servant leadership is all about putting your team first. You focus on their development, needs, and well-being, and this builds trust and confidence. By supporting your team, you assist them in succeeding, so the team achieves its objectives.  

This style is most suitable in a situation where the leader is interested in helping their team to achieve success. When you prioritise their needs, everyone can perform their best by creating a good and productive environment.  

Coaching Leadership  

Coaching leadership is about helping your team to develop day by day. You guide your team, provide feedback, and help your team to develop new skills. This leadership style is great when you want to create a long-term relationship with your team.  

It is also one of the most supportive styles of leadership, and it is very effective when your team is ready to learn. If you’re trying to figure out your own leadership style, then this style can be good if you like teaching and seeing others succeed.  

Situational Leadership  

Situational leadership is simply about modifying your style. Whenever there is a need in your team, you can change your style of action. It is the most flexible form of leadership because not every situation is handled in the same way.  

When you are doing multiple tasks or interacting with various individuals with different strengths, then this type of leadership is helpful for you to lead a group. The best managers use different leadership skills and styles to guide different types of teams.  

Visionary Leadership  

Visionary leadership is another style of leadership that can enable you to give instructions to your team towards a big and clear goal. You bring the vision for the team and the desire to work as a team to achieve the goal. It is a powerful leadership style when your team requires direction and concentration.  

It’s an excellent leadership style if you love motivating and inspiring others. This kind of leadership is the most effective one that needs hope, direction, and a long-term vision that helps the team achieve big goals.  

Bureaucratic Leadership  

The leadership of bureaucracy is all about rules and procedures. In case your work requires careful action or safety checks, this type of leadership style can run things smoothly without any mistakes.  

The style is not too creative, but compared with the various leadership styles, this style fits in serious or formal situations. It is among all the styles; this can be helpful when a team requires order and guidance. 

How Do You Know What Your Leadership Style Is?  

Knowing what your leadership style is will help you to become a more confident and effective leader who knows your team better. Each one leads their team differently, but the best thing is to know about your advantages and work on your improvements.  

The following are easy steps to find your leadership style:  

Notice How You Lead  

There is a possibility that you are using a combination of different leadership styles without being aware of it. Ask team members or colleagues how they view you as a leader. This can give you insights into your leadership style.  

Understand Different Leadership Styles 

Spend some time learning a different style of leadership and consider which one fits your personality and your team's needs. Knowing about these various leadership styles may help you in leading the team more effectively.

Make Small Changes Gradually

You don't have to change the entire approach at once. It may not be so easy to switch to a new leadership style overnight. So try with small changes, such as providing clearer feedback or by listening more to see what works best for you.

Adapt to New Styles

There are different leadership skills and styles. Good leaders stay adaptable and use the most effective leadership style based on the people and the situations.

How BIXO Supports Different Leadership Styles?

All managers have a different style of leading, and this is the reason why managers use AI assistants. BIXO, as your AI manager assistant, does not replace you as a leader; it supports you. Whether you prefer to stay closely involved with your team or give them more independence, BIXO helps you to stay organised in both cases. You can track progress and make smarter decisions without feeling stressed. It learns your leadership style and provides direction and vision so you can focus on being the leader your team deserves

Conclusion

Leadership isn’t about following only one fixed way; it’s about understanding yourself, knowing your team, and always learning. Regardless of your style, the leadership approach that helps your team achieve its goals is the right one. And you don’t have to do it all alone. With support from BIXO, your AI manager assistant, you can lead more confidently and effectively. BIXO helps you grow your skills and guides you to become the kind of leader your team needs.