Using your leadership style to empower your team
In a Nutshell
Your leadership style influences how empowered and safe your team feels at work.
Every leadership style has its strengths and challenges. Understanding yours can be a powerful first step in supporting your team better and influencing your workplace culture in a positive way.
Your leadership style does not need to guide every interaction. Being able to adapt your approach to different situations and individual needs is a valuable leadership skill in its own right.
Being a leader today means more than setting goals and tracking performance. In the workplace, it also involves creating a work environment where people feel safe, supported, and motivated to do their best.
For managers who want to grow into more empowering leaders, understanding your leadership style is a key step. When you use your style thoughtfully and flexibly, you not only drive results but also contribute to employees’ wellbeing, workplace happiness, and stronger team camaraderie.
But first, what exactly is a leadership style?
Your leadership style is the overall way you make decisions, communicate expectations, and relate to the people you lead. It reflects your beliefs about how work gets done and how people perform at their best.
Some leaders are naturally warm and coaching-oriented, while others focus more on giving direction and clarity. No style is inherently right or wrong, but each has tendencies that can affect team dynamics in different ways.
A good leader is self‑aware about their default style and capable of adapting when the situation calls for it. This is where emotional intelligence comes in and helps you recognise when to shift gears when needed.
Is there a single best leadership style?
There’s no single best leadership style for every situation. The most effective managers are those who understand the strengths and limits of their default approach and adjust it when necessary.
For example, a team that is highly skilled and experienced may flourish under a leadership style that emphasises autonomy. In contrast, a newer team or one facing a high‑risk deadline might benefit from a more structured approach.
The better you understand different leadership styles and when to use them, the more effectively you can support your team’s success.
Good leaders also pay attention to their team’s wellbeing and conduct regular mental health check‑ins. These conversations create psychological safety, improve trust, and help you respond to needs before issues escalate.
Understanding the 8 leadership styles
Leadership is not a one-size-fits-all role. Different situations, team dynamics and organisational cultures call for different leadership approaches.
Below are eight leadership styles commonly observed in workplaces. As you read, reflect on whether the style describes you and if there are any people or situations at your workplace that could benefit from a specific leadership approach.
1. Visionary leadership
Visionary leaders focus on long-term goals and big-picture thinking. They energise teams by painting a clear picture of the future and connecting daily tasks to broader purpose.
Strengths | Potential challenges |
Provides direction and clarity of purpose | May miss operational details |
Inspires through vision and values | Can feel disconnected from day-to-day realities |
Motivates during periods of change | May struggle with practical follow-through |
When to use it: This style is most effective during times of transformation or when a new strategic direction is needed.
How to make it empowering: Anchor your vision in the team’s everyday experience. Break big goals into manageable milestones, and regularly check in to keep morale high. Link the vision to individual motivations to maintain engagement and workplace happiness.
2. Coaching leadership
Coaching leaders help team members grow by focusing on individual development, long-term potential, and reflective learning.
Strengths | Potential challenges |
Builds trust through support and guidance | Can be time-consuming |
Encourages learning and self-awareness | May not be effective in urgent situations |
Helps individuals take ownership | Requires emotional intelligence and patience |
When to use it: Best suited when your team is open to development or when there's time to invest in learning.
How to make it empowering: Use regular one-on-one conversations to explore personal and professional goals. Encourage reflection rather than giving direct solutions. Include mental health check-ins as part of these chats to build a foundation of trust and support.
3. Democratic leadership
Democratic leaders involve their teams in decision‑making. They seek input and create an environment where people feel their voice matters.
Strengths | Potential challenges |
Increases engagement and accountability | Decision-making may be slow |
Values diverse perspectives | Can lead to ambiguity if roles aren't clear |
Builds inclusive team culture | Not ideal in fast-paced or high-risk situations |
When to use it: Ideal when decisions would benefit from multiple viewpoints or when team buy-in is essential.
How to make it empowering: Facilitate open discussions but provide structure. Set clear expectations about how decisions will be made. This style enhances team camaraderie and inspires a sense of ownership, which can improve overall workplace wellbeing.
4. Affiliative leadership
Affiliative leaders prioritise relationships and emotional connection. They focus on harmony and creating a positive environment.
Strengths | Potential challenges |
Builds trust and team morale | Can avoid addressing performance issues |
Creates psychological safety | May compromise productivity if misused |
Supports mental wellbeing | Risk of unclear boundaries or goals |
When to use it: Especially useful during times of stress, conflict, or low morale.
How to make it empowering: Pair emotional support with clear expectations. Don’t avoid hard conversations. Instead, deliver feedback with empathy. Consistent mental health check-ins and recognition of individual contributions can also make this style highly effective.
5. Authoritative (commanding) leadership
Commanding leaders provide clear instructions and expect compliance. This style often comes to mind when urgent action is needed.
Strengths | Potential challenges |
Offers clarity during crises | Can feel intimidating or disempowering |
Speeds up decision-making | Reduces autonomy and trust |
Sets clear rules and expectations | Can damage morale if overused |
When to use it: Best in emergencies, high-risk environments, or with new teams that need structure.
How to make it empowering: Use this style sparingly and explain the reasoning behind your decisions. After the immediate need passes, return to a more collaborative or coaching-based style to rebuild trust and autonomy.
6. Delegative leadership
Delegative leaders give team members full autonomy and trust them to take responsibility for their work.
Strengths | Potential challenges |
Encourages independence and ownership | May feel like a lack of support |
Sparks creativity and initiative | Can lead to confusion without clear guidance |
Builds trust with capable teams | Not ideal for less experienced staff |
When to use it: Best when leading experienced, self-directed individuals who perform well with minimal oversight.
How to make it empowering: Offer resources and clarify expectations. Even in high-autonomy environments, regular check-ins are key and can also help uncover hidden stressors that might be missed in a hands-off approach.
7. Authoritarian leadership
Authoritarian leaders make decisions independently, with minimal team input. They emphasise control, order, and adherence to rules.
Strengths | Potential challenges |
Clear expectations and structure | May stifle creativity and dialogue |
Fast decision-making | Can harm trust and engagement |
Useful for high-risk environments | Often seen as rigid or outdated |
When to use it: Best used in situations that require strict procedures, such as safety-critical industries or with junior teams needing structure.
How to make it empowering: Communicate not just what you expect, but why. Acknowledge team contributions even within a top-down structure. Blend in democratic or coaching elements over time to avoid resentment or disengagement.
8. Transactional leadership
Transactional leaders focus on structure, performance, and clear exchanges: do the work, get the reward. It’s a results-driven approach based on defined roles and expectations.
Strengths | Potential challenges |
Maintains structure and accountability | May ignore emotional needs or wellbeing |
Provides clarity and consistency | Can feel impersonal or rigid |
Effective for achieving short-term goals | Lacks inspiration and long-term vision |
When to use it: Useful when tasks are routine or goals are clearly measurable, such as sales teams or project deadlines.
How to make it empowering: Don’t rely only on rewards and consequences. Recognise effort, not just outcomes. Layer in coaching or visionary approaches to support team growth and connection.
Final thoughts
Understanding your leadership style is a strong foundation, but the real value lies in how you apply it to meet your team’s unique needs. Great leadership is not about holding tightly to one approach. Rather, it’s about adapting with empathy, communicating with clarity, and responding with intention.
When you lead with emotional intelligence, prioritise workplace wellbeing, and inspire meaningful human connection, you create an environment where people feel valued, capable, and motivated to give their best. This is what transforms a manager into a leader others want to follow.
But leadership doesn’t start and end with others. To lead well, you also need to lead yourself. The most inspiring leaders are those who continually reflect, learn, and care for their own mental and emotional health.
If you’re looking to grow in this area, consider connecting with a career coach or mental health professional who can support your personal as well as professional wellbeing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reflect on how you make decisions, lead meetings, and respond to challenges. Seek feedback from peers and team members. Formal assessments or leadership coaching can also help.
Yes. Effective leaders are adaptable. Choosing a style that fits the situation and the needs of your team will make you more effective.
Emotional intelligence enables you to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as respond effectively to the emotions of your team. This helps improve communication, trust, and wellbeing at work.
Ask for feedback and observe how your team responds. You can adjust your approach to be more collaborative, structured, or supportive based on what helps your team feel empowered and effective.
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Psychologist
I am a registered Organisational Psychologist who focuses on wellbeing, stress, work-life balance, workplace advice, coaching, and mentoring. I have a Masters in Psycholo...More
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