Leadership Styles: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Team

The way you lead can either lift your team or hold them back. That is why understanding different leadership styles is so important. It is especially needed if you’re pursuing the CMI Level 5 Qualification. What works well in one group might not work for another. Many confuse Leadership vs Management, but the truth is they serve different purposes.

Leadership is about direction and vision. Management is about structure and process. Both matters for a project, but your leadership style sets the tone. Let’s check the different styles for your team!

Table of Contents

• What are Leadership Styles?
• Types of Leadership Styles
• Choose the Right Leadership Style for Your Team
• Conclusion

What are Leadership Styles?

Leadership styles refer to a leader’s way of directing, motivating, and managing a team. Each leader has their own uniqueness in working with others, with their personality, experience, and workplace culture. These styles play an important role in building your team’s confidence and performance.

You need to align your leadership style with the needs of your team and the goals of your organisation. A good leader will have a flexible style for different situations. It helps their team stay focused and be successful.

Types of Leadership Styles

Below are some of the common leadership styles with their uniqueness:

Democratic Leadership

This style is also known as participative leadership. Because it is all about participation. You involve your team in making decisions. It builds trust in your team. The team members will feel engaged because their voices are heard.

Strengths:

• Improves creativity and engagement
• Boosts team inclusion

Challenges:

• Slow decision-making
• Not suitable for high-pressure teams

Autocratic Leadership

This is the opposite of democratic leadership. It focuses on clear control. The leader makes fast decisions and gives instructions to their teams. It works well when tasks need to be done quickly.

Strengths:

• Ensures quick decision-making
• Useful in crisis situations or with less experienced teams

Challenges:

• May lower morale over time
• Can reduce creativity and initiative

Transformational Leadership

A transformational leader sets a vision. They aim high and encourage others to rise with them. It is perfect for teams that need motivation or want to embrace change.

Strengths:

• Improves innovation and growth
• Creates a strong sense of purpose

Challenges:

• May overlook practical day-to-day issues
• Can lead to burnout if expectations are high

Situational Leadership

Situational leaders will adjust their style based on what is going on with their team. They change between directive and supportive behaviours based on the situation and team members. They will be more flexible with their team.

Strengths:

• Highly adaptive to different team dynamics
• Supports employee development

Challenges:

• Requires strong emotional intelligence
• Can be inconsistent if not well-managed

Transactional Leadership

Here, leaders focus on structure. It is based on performance and focuses on short-term tasks and goals. So, each task is clearly defined. Good performance gets rewards, and poor performance will be corrected.

Strengths:

• Clear structure and expectations
• Effective for routine, task-oriented work

Challenges:

• May hinder long-term innovation
• Little emphasis on team development

Laissez-Faire Leadership

From the French term meaning “let do,” the leader steps back in this style. The team works independently and makes decisions on their own. The leader will be offering support only when needed.

Strengths:

• Helps people think creatively and stay motivated on their own
• Builds trust among team members

Challenges:

• Can lead to a lack of direction or confusion
• Risk of poor performance if not managed well

Servant Leadership

A servant leader will check the growth of their team. They lead by example by putting the needs of their team on top of above all.

Strengths:

• Develops trust and loyalty
• Creates a united and connected team

Challenges:

• Can be misunderstood as passive
• Might be difficult in competitive environments

Choose the Right Leadership Style for Your Team 

Choosing the right leadership style includes:

Understand Your Team

Know how skilled, confident, and independent your team members are. New teams may need more guidance, while experienced teams often prefer more freedom.

Consider the Nature of the Work

A clear and structured leadership style will be good for teams that follow a routine or a strict workflow. An open style can be used for creative teams.

Know Your Strength

You can use the leadership style that feels suitable. However, you also need to change when your team needs a different approach.

Be Flexible

Not every situation is the same. They are different. So, you need to know when you need to change your leadership style. This will help you become flexible with each work.

Collect Feedback

Talk to your team to know which leadership style helps them to do their best. Their feedback will help you know the areas of improvement.

Conclusion

Choosing the right leadership style isn’t about following the rules. It is about understanding your team and their needs. That is why many professionals trust Oakwood International. The practical approach to leadership makes the concepts come alive. If you’re serious about growing into a confident, capable leader, transform yourself to lead with clarity, care, and purpose now.