What's your leadership style?

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And a warm welcome to the 49 new readers who joined us this week! 🎉 It seems my latest LinkedIn post sparked some interest which makes me feel sooo grateful! thank you for your trust, really.. If you have missed this post, you can check it out here :

This week is all about YOU, the leader you are, and the leader you dream of becoming.

There’s no such thing as “one” leadership style

If you’ve ever wondered “Am I leading the right way?” … good news!: that question alone already makes you a better leader.

And yes, leadership style really matters.

It shapes team morale, trust, performance… and even how much energy you have left at the end of the week.

Why having a leadership style matters 

Early in my career, I thought leadership meant “leading with authority”, or ‘leading by example” but in fact it’s a mix of a lots of leadership styles, as long as you manage to create a common ground

I see this a lot with clients too. One client told me recently:

“People don’t really know what to expect from me anymore.”

Another one, in Hong Kong.

She told me: “Back home (Europe), my leadership was clear. Here, I feel… muted, and isolated.”

That’s often the sign that a leadership style is not defined, and hasn’t found its style

A clear style helps people understand how you make decisions, how you communicate, and how they can succeed with you.

This comes up even more when you’re leading in a foreign country.

Sandra wasn’t less capable. She was over-adapting to the culture, trying to match expectations everyday that were never clearly stated. Once we clarified her leadership style - and how it translated in an intercultural context - her confidence and impact came back progressively

8 leadership styles

There’s no “best” leadership style. Context matters. People matter. Timing matters.

But most leaders naturally lean toward a few common styles:

• Directive / Autocratic : great in crisis, tough when overused

• Structured / Bureaucratic : reassuring, but can limit innovation

• Coaching : powerful for growth, but energy-intensive

• Democratic : inclusive, but slower

• Laissez-faire : empowering, (only) the team is ready

• Pacesetter :fast and demanding, sometimes exhausting

• Servant leader : deeply human, but not always decisive

• Visionary : inspiring, as long as reality isn’t ignored

Most of my clients don’t “fit” into just one. And if you ask me, that’s an excellent thing.

One client I worked with was stuck because she thought she had to choose:

“Either I’m empathetic, or I’m authoritative.”

Is your leadership style fixed?

Short answer: no.

You’re not locked into a personality box. Leadership evolves with experience, confidence, and self-awareness. I’ve seen leaders soften over time. Others become more assertive. Many realize that what worked 5 years ago… doesn’t work anymore.

How to clarify your leadership style

If you want a starting point, ask yourself:

• Do I naturally focus more on results or relationships?

• Do I prefer structure or flexibility?

• Do I enjoy developing people, or setting direction?

• Where do I feel most drained? Where do I feel most energized? 

then:

1-Test: Apply your insights in real situations and see how your style works in practice.

2-Adjust: Notice what feels right and what doesn’t: leadership is dynamic, so please remember that it will evolve.

3-Ask for feedback: Your team’s perception shows what inspires them and what might need tweaking.

4-Observe how people respond: Leadership is about impact; watch how your approach affects morale, engagement, and results.

Let me tell you: it will always be a work in progress, even for those of you who are in senior leaders.

Want to know what your leadership style is?

What kind of leader are you? Take the test now!

This is exactly what career coaching helps you with: Not by changing who you are, but by helping you identify your core talents,

Recognizing your patterns, finding the right balance, and building flexibility without losing authenticity. It’s about knowing when to lean into a style, and when to step back, depending on the context.

» If you want to discover your leadership signature, & find the right balance for your team and yourself, book a 45-minute session with me

  Book a free 45-min conversation  

See you next week!

Stephanie