What Are the Different Leadership Styles? & How to Find Yours

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What are the different leadership styles? It’s a question many leaders ask, hoping to uncover the single “best” approach to leading their teams. But leadership isn’t about memorising definitions or sticking rigidly to a formula.

The most effective leadership styles are dynamic. Great leaders adapt their approach to fit the needs of their people, their culture, and the challenges in front of them. They master the art of flexing styles, knowing when to inspire, when to listen, when to delegate, and when to step in with structure.

At Farleigh, we work with leaders to move beyond the theory. Together, we build leadership styles rooted in values, designed to empower teams and aligned with the wider organisation. Here’s how you can identify different types of leadership styles and make them work for you.

Table of Contents

The 4 Most Common Leadership Styles (And When to Use Them)

There are many leadership styles, but these four remain some of the most recognised and widely used worldwide. Understanding their strengths and challenges helps leaders avoid the trap of over-relying on one approach.

1. Autocratic Leadership

This authoritarian style thrives on clear direction and tight control. Autocratic leaders make decisions independently, set strict expectations, and often excel in high-pressure or regulated environments.

When speed and precision are critical, such as during a crisis, this style works. But over time, a lack of collaboration can erode trust and stifle creativity, leading to lower employee satisfaction and engagement.

Try this: Even in high-control environments, invite employee feedback through structured channels like surveys or town halls to build trust.

2. Democratic Leadership

Also known as participative leadership, this style invites team members into the decision-making process. Democratic leaders encourage collaboration and build stronger employee engagement by showing that every voice matters.

This approach is ideal when team alignment and creativity are key. But there’s a risk: too much discussion can slow decisions, particularly in fast-moving industries.

Farleigh insight: Democratic leadership shone in our work at The Dyson Institute, where early-career leaders learned to balance openness with decisiveness.

3. Transformational Leadership

Transformational leaders inspire their teams with a compelling vision and motivate them to go beyond expectations. Often considered one of the most effective leadership styles, it’s powerful for driving cultural change and innovation.

But it requires balance to maintain momentum without burnout. Transformational leadership requires strong emotional intelligence and systems to support both leaders and their teams.

4. Transactional Leadership

This leadership approach focuses on structure, using rewards and penalties to drive performance. Transactional leaders thrive in highly regulated environments where compliance is key.

However, over time, this style may not foster innovation or deep employee engagement. Pairing transactional methods with transformational leadership can create both clarity and inspiration for teams.

Farleigh insight: Transactional leadership can complement transformational efforts by providing clear performance expectations during periods of change.

The Best Styles of Leadership for Today’s Workplace

The best styles of leadership aren’t fixed. In modern workplaces, leaders need to flex based on context, team maturity, and organisational culture.

Different styles suit different scenarios and teams:

  • Democratic leadership can help rebuild trust and empower teams after periods of change.
  • Situational leadership allows leaders to adapt to the challenges at hand, switching between directive and supportive roles.
  • Transformational leadership drives innovation and helps teams align to a shared vision.

At Farleigh, we help leaders uncover their natural style and develop the confidence to flex their approach. That’s where leadership becomes more than a label; it becomes a skillset for real-world success.

How to Find Your Leadership Style – And Make It Work

Leaders rarely fit neatly into one box. The most effective leaders know their natural style, understand its strengths and challenges, and learn to flex based on their people and situations.

Ask yourself:

  • Which style feels most natural to me?
  • Where does my current leadership style support or hinder my team?
  • What leadership strengths and weaknesses show up when I’m under pressure?

Through our Leadership Development programmes, we’ve seen leaders achieve “aha” moments that completely change how they lead. They learn to adjust their style based on employee feedback and organisational goals, creating long-term success for themselves and their teams. At The Dyson Institute, Farleigh worked with early-career leaders to build self-awareness and help them adapt their style for different challenges. Resulting in more confident leaders equipped to inspire and align their teams in complex environments.

Why Leadership Styles Matter – But Aren’t the Whole Story

Leadership styles shape how employees experience their workplace. Think of them like lenses: each style offers a different perspective on decision-making, communication, collaboration, and culture.

But here’s the problem with traditional leadership style frameworks: they often imply that one style is superior. They don’t account for real-world complexity, or the need for leaders to pivot as situations change.

Consider this:

  • A transformational leader might inspire a team during a big strategic shift.
  • But the same team could later need a democratic leadership approach to rebuild trust during challenging times.

In our work with Aston Manor Cider, this was exactly the challenge. Leadership styles had become siloed, with some managers taking a transactional approach while others leaned towards democratic decision-making. Farleigh helped leaders understand the impact of their styles on team dynamics and supported them to flex their approach. The result was stronger collaboration and a more unified culture driving business growth.

Beyond Styles – Building Leadership That Lasts

Identifying the different types of leadership styles is step one. Embedding them into your leadership practice is where the real work (and impact) happens. The most effective leadership styles aren’t static; they evolve. Situational awareness, emotional intelligence, and cultural understanding allow leaders to choose which style to bring forward.

Ask yourself:

  • What is my current leadership style under pressure?
  • How do my team members respond to it?
  • Which other styles could help me lead more effectively in specific scenarios?

This isn’t about abandoning your natural strengths. It’s about expanding your toolkit.

At Farleigh, we often see leaders have “aha” moments in our Leadership Development programmes when they realise the value of flexing styles.

If you’re ready to move beyond theory and lead with impact, let’s talk.

Leadership Styles and Organisational Culture

Leadership doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The most effective leaders also understand their organisation’s culture and align their approach accordingly.

  • In a fast-paced tech culture, a blend of transformational and delegative styles might fuel innovation.
  • In a long-established corporate culture, democratic and bureaucratic elements could provide the needed structure.

But cultures change too. Leaders must adapt or risk creating friction between their style and what the workplace demands.Farleigh’s Culture Consultancy helps organisations create environments where leadership styles align with strategy and people.

Final Thoughts: What Are the Different Leadership Styles Teaching You?

What are the different leadership styles really about? They’re a lens to help you see your strengths, spot your blind spots, and lead with confidence.

The most effective leaders don’t ask “Which is the best style?” They ask “What does my team need from me today? And am I prepared to step up in a way that works?”At Farleigh, we work with leaders and teams ready to go beyond frameworks and lead with purpose. Whether through Leadership Development, Team Development, or Culture Consultancy, we’ll help you build styles that stick.

Leadership Development
Team Development