Last Updated on December 30, 2025 by Fly High Coaching
The best leadership styles are the focus of this week’s #Career101Podcast, where host and CEO Porschia breaks down five powerful approaches every leader should know. From inspiring teams to making quick decisions under pressure, leadership style shapes not just how you manage, but how your people thrive!
In this episode, Porschia explores the strengths of five proven leadership models and explains how your personality and communication style can make each one uniquely effective. She also teases three practical tips to help you figure out which leadership style fits you best.
You’ll get a taste of what makes transformational leadership so energizing, why servant leadership puts people before profit, and how democratic leadership fosters collaboration and trust. But that’s only half the story, some styles might surprise you.
What you’ll learn:
- The 5 best leadership styles that organizations use to inspire, empower, and drive results.
- Why transformational leaders achieve higher team performance and satisfaction.
- How servant leaders cultivate trust and loyalty by putting people first.
- The benefits of democratic leadership in fostering innovation and collaboration.
- When autocratic leadership is not only acceptable but necessary.
Resources:
- Episode Transcript
Today, we’re diving into a crucial topic for anyone in a leadership position: the five best and most effective leadership styles. We’ll explore what makes each style beneficial, how you can develop your leadership skills to model them, and how your personality and communication style can enhance your effectiveness. Plus, I’ll share three key tips for choosing the best leadership style for you. Let’s get started!
The first leadership style we’re going to talk about is Transformational Leadership. Transformational leadership is one of the most popular leadership styles Discussed today. A lot of companies and organizations That We Talk to Utilize or aspire to utilize the transformational leadership style. Transformational leadership theory was first outlined in 1973 by James Downton, and it was later expanded upon by James Burns in 1978. By 1990, Bernard Bass added on to the concept of transformational leadership theory. He explained that transformational leaders are those who stimulate and inspire followers to both achieve extraordinary outcomes and in the process, develop their own leadership capacity. In his mind, transformational leaders help followers grow and develop into leaders themselves by responding to individual followers needs and empowering them, while aligning the objectives and goals of the followers, the leader, the group, and the entire organization. Bass Also expounded upon psychological Aspects Of transformational leadership theory. In his opinion, the followers of a leader must Feel trust and admiration, but also loyalty and respect. Those emotions are important so that the followers are willing to work harder than what they normally Would have. Bass Also Explained what he considered to be the four key elements of transformational leadership styles. They are idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration. Through these components This leadership style helps to transform its followers into More productive people.
Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their teams to achieve extraordinary results. They focus on vision, innovation, and personal development, creating a work environment where employees feel empowered and driven. In research done by Psychology Today. It was found that transformational leaders have higher levels of performance and report Overall higher satisfaction Than teams led by other styles. It could be thought that this is because Team members find a stronger meaning in their work and think more positively about themselves, their roles, and jobs.
To develop your transformational leadership abilities, I recommend a few things.
– Work on your ability to articulate a clear and compelling vision.
– Foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
– Develop strong emotional intelligence to connect with and inspire your team.
**2. Servant Leadership** The next leadership style I want to discuss is servant leadership. Servant leadership is another extremely popular leadership theory. That is utilized by many organizations today. It was originally Created By Robert Greenleaf. And it emphasizes that a leader’s Main focus should be on serving the needs of their team, others, and their organization, instead of their own personal goals, Or goals That are at the expense of others. In servant leadership, there’s a big emphasis on People over profits. And it’s about empowering individuals, while Cultivating their growth and development. In 1970 Robert Greenleaf Wrote an essay called The Servant as a Leader. In this essay, he described how true leadership is about serving others and helping them Grow into the best version of themselves and reach their potential. Some key aspects of servant leadership include: Serving others first, Empowering and developing others, Encouraging growth, Collaboration, Trust, humility, And ethics. I noticed that a lot of our clients in healthcare Utilize servant leadership Within their organizations.
Servant leaders prioritize the well-being and growth of their employees. This style builds trust, loyalty, and a strong sense of community within an organization. According to Greenleaf a servant leader focuses primarily on the growth and well being of the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the top of the pyramid, servant leadership is different. The servant leader shares power, puts the needs of others 1st, and helps people. Develop and perform as highly as possible.
to Develop your servant leadership style, I recommend a few things.
– Practice active listening and empathy when engaging with your team.
– Make decisions based on what’s best for your employees and organization, rather than personal gain.
– Support team development through mentorship and professional growth opportunities.
The next leadership style I want to discuss is Democratic Leadership also known as Participative Leadership. Some people even consider this to be shared leadership. Democratic leadership Encourages each team member to contribute in the decision making process by sharing their opinions and thoughts. In the 1990s, John Gastil published an article That Outlined The framework for Democratic leadership. In his article, he defined 3 core aspects Of democratic leadership, including the distribution of responsibility, the Empowerment of others, and aiding in decision making. Democratic leaders encourage open conversation and help their Employees with goal setting and Performance evaluation, Which can motivate them to grow and develop. In the Democratic leadership style Ideas flow freely and discussion is encouraged. This can lead to Feelings of group equality and unity. But the Democratic leader is still there To provide guidance and control. Also the Democratic leader Is responsible for deciding who is in the group. And who gets to contribute to the decision making. There is research that shows Democratic leadership is one of the most effective leadership styles, and it can lead to higher productivity, Better contributions from group members, and improved group morale and engagement. Some other key aspects of democratic or participant leadership include collaboration, Engagement, creativity, And respect. At the core of participative leadership, leaders strive to make decisions Based on morals and values while seeking A variety of opinions, Even if they are seen as less popular.
This leadership style fosters collaboration, teamwork, transparency, and a sense of ownership among employees. It enhances innovation and problem-solving through diverse perspectives. I think it’s common to see Democratic leadership. In public organizations. Universities and schools. With that being said, some private businesses utilize participative leadership as well.
*How to Develop It:* Some recommendations to develop democratic leadership are:
– Encouraging open dialogue and invite input from your team before making decisions.
– Fostering a culture of trust and psychological safety where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas.
– Practicing delegation and empowering team members to take on responsibilities.
The next leadership style I want to talk about is Autocratic Leadership Also known as Directive Leadership. Many of us are very familiar with the autocratic leadership style. This is sometimes called an authoritarian leadership style. In these instances, a single leader makes decisions without input from others. The Autocratic leader Holds Ultimate authority and control, Dictates actions, and expects compliance With their orders. Some key aspects of autocratic leadership include Centralized decision making, Directive communication, High levels of control, a strong emphasis on authority, and limited levels of collaboration, among others. Just based on that description, I’m sure that you can think of many examples Of Autocratic leaders who you might have worked for in the past, or that you can think of from history Or politics.
While it may seem rigid, autocratic leadership can be highly effective in situations that require quick decision-making, structure, and efficiency, such as crisis management or highly regulated industries. I generally tell people to resist the urge of thinking about autocratic leadership as bad. Because there are strengths to it as well. And there are situations where directive leadership Might be the best option.
*How to Develop It:* develop your autocratic leader Skills. Leadership skills. I recommend that you;
– Strengthen your decision-making and problem-solving skills.
– Be clear and concise in your communication.
– Balance authority with approachability to avoid alienating your team.
The 5th leadership style I want to talk about is the Coaching Leadership style. This style Focuses on Developing others to achieve their full potential, While emphasizing their strengths And guiding them towards growth and development. Coaching leaders might act as mentors, Providing support, feedback and guidance. That empowers their team members To take ownership In their roles. Some of the key aspects of the coaching leadership style include An emphasis on individual development, Mentorship and guidance, Empowerment, autonomy, Collaboration, trust, and continuous learning and improvement. I’m sure you can think of many coaching leaders that you’ve been exposed to throughout your career and life.
This is important because Coaching leaders focus on developing their team members’ skills, helping them reach their full potential. These leaders can see Their team members ability And weaknesses so that they can help each individual grow and be successful. Coaching leaders Also focus on giving constructive feedback to improve an individual’s Skills and talents, Along with their self-confidence to take on New projects Or tasks. Coaching Leadership Includes high levels of Customize support, Balanced by helpful feedback. Many coaching leaders serve as mentors Who promote skill building. And A growth mindset. This style is great for long-term employee development and engagement within organizations.
To develop your coaching leadership style, I recommend that you.
– Invest in your own coaching and mentorship skills.
– Provide regular, constructive feedback and personalized development plans.
– Encourage a growth mindset and continuous learning.
Every leader has a unique personality and communication style that can shape how they apply these leadership approaches. Whether you are naturally extroverted and charismatic or more introverted and analytical, embracing your strengths can make your leadership style more authentic and effective. The key is to leverage your unique traits while remaining adaptable to your team’s needs. We have a personality series On this podcast. I think a good starting place is episode 90, Understanding Your Personality with the MBTI Assessment. In that episode I discuss Different aspects of personality and how You can gain a deeper level of self-awareness.
I know that with that review of the different leadership styles, You might have a lot of thoughts spinning in your head right now. So I want to share.**3 Tips for Choosing the Best Leadership Style for You:**
- **Assess Your Natural Strengths and Weaknesses** – Take time to reflect on what comes naturally to you and where you may need to grow. Use tools like personality assessments or leadership evaluations for insight.
- **Consider Your Team and Work Environment** – Different situations call for different leadership styles. A startup may thrive with transformational leadership, while a regulatory agency might require more autocratic leadership.
- **Be Adaptable and Evolve Over Time** – The best leaders are flexible and continuously refine their approach based on their experiences, team dynamics, and changing business needs.
No single leadership style is the best—it’s about finding what works for you and your team. By understanding these five leadership styles and developing the skills to model them effectively, you can enhance your impact as a leader. If you found today’s episode valuable, be sure to subscribe and share it with your network. And if you’re looking for personalized coaching to refine your leadership style, reach out—I’d love to help you on your journey to becoming an exceptional leader. See you in the next episode!
