There are many different management styles, and for better or worse, they play a decisive role in shaping team performance, engagement, morale, and overall organizational success. 

There are also many factors that influence how successful a particular management style can be. These include different employee personalities and levels of experience, the nature of the work, the company culture and work environment, and certainly not least, a manager’s ability to effectively apply their style. 

How do you define your current management or leadership style? Do you know how your team views your approach? Research from the American Management Association (AMA) is an eye-opener, citing how survey respondents revealed significant disparities between how managers view their own styles versus how their direct reports actually perceive them. 

Researchers consistently point out that understanding your own style is key to building trust and driving performance with your team members. 

We’re going to unpack the most common types of leadership and look at styles that continue to drive the most success in today’s work environments. 

Let’s answer this first: What is a management or leadership style?  

At its core, your management style reflects how you lead, guide, support, communicate, make decisions, delegate, and motivate your team. It involves how much direction or autonomy you give to your team and individual employees and how much feedback you provide. 

It’s important to note that your management style and leadership traits are two different things. Your management style represents the methods you apply, and leadership traits are the intangibles, including communication skills, emotional intelligence, credibility, consistency, judgment, and the ability to adapt to challenges and organizational change. Combined, these are the elements of great leadership that move people and teams to respond in positive ways. 

It’s also important to recognize that even naturally gifted leaders must learn how to adapt their approach to different employees and situations. In other words, while some people have natural leadership traits, such as confidence, empathy, decisiveness, or strong communication skills, good leadership is mostly developed through experience, training, feedback, and especially self-awareness.  

This article focuses on management styles – the methods and tactics professionals use every day to lead people and teams. 

Classic types of management styles and skills   

There are several common styles of management in practice today. Each strategy has strengths and drawbacks that must be judiciously balanced and applied to be effective.

1. The “I’ve got this” manager – Autocratic Management Style

The autocratic leader makes decisions quickly, confidently, and independently of their employees and teams. The autocratic style works well in urgent, high-pressure, and time-sensitive situations; however, overuse can result in limited creativity and engagement and undermine a positive, healthy workplace culture. 

Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership.

2. The “let’s talk it out” manager – Democratic Management Style

The democratic leader gathers input, encourages collaboration, and makes sure team members feel heard.  

This style tends to boost morale, job satisfaction, and innovation because employees are actively involved in planning and decision making. This management style can have a positive impact on individuals and teams, especially among younger generations of workers who want a sense of purpose in their jobs.  

But this management style can also present some challenges. Learn about the pros and cons of the democratic leadership style.

3. The “do your thing” manager – Laissez-Faire Management Style

The laissez-faire leader trusts their teams and employees to take ownership of their work, requiring minimal managerial oversight. It’s a great approach that tends to work best for experienced, highly skilled, self-motivated teams, but it’s risky for new hires or less experienced employees and teams. 

Check out the U.S. Chamber of Commerce overview on laissez-faire leadership.

4. The “let’s grow together” manager – Transformational Management Style  

Transformational managers inspire, motivate, and push their people to think big. This is a visionary management style that focuses on the future, innovation, and personal development, making it one of the most impactful approaches to people management in today’s fast-moving business world.  

The University of Massachusetts Global explains why transformational leadership is one of the top-performing management styles for inspirational guidance, teamwork, and driving company visions forward.

5. The “goals = rewards” manager – Transactional Management Style

This incentive/consequence-based management style focuses on clear expectations and clear rewards – as well as corrective actions when standards are not met. It drives efficiency and structure but can limit long-term inspiration, motivation, and engagement. 

Arkansas State University shares the pros and cons of the transactional leadership style by comparing it to transformational leadership – and when it’s advantageous to use both. 

Which styles actually work best?  

If you were to ask a roomful of highly successful leaders to define their management approach, you would get a lot of answers – from each leader! This is because strong managers don’t rely on just one style. Instead, they’re flexible, adjusting their approaches based on the people they’re managing, the work and company objectives that need to be accomplished, and the specific circumstances. 

Top tip: The best leaders treat their management style like a toolkit  

Here’s where most managers get it wrong: They regard their leadership style as a set of personality traits. While personality and leadership traits are essential for effective leadership, they are not management style tactics or methods. 

Great managers regard their management or leadership style as a proverbial toolkit. When needed, they pull out tools that are designed to address specific needs.  

Here are a few examples… 

• When big changes are taking place in the organization, effective leaders lean into a transformational mindset. 

• When the pressure is on with urgency and tight deadlines, they amp up structure by applying the autocratic or transactional leadership style. 

• When there’s a need to innovate with future-focused, creative brainstorming, they go full democratic in their leadership style. 

The magic is in the mix! 

Unpack your own style and watch your team or career grow 

Take a moment this week to ask your team or yourself a simple question: “What’s one thing I could do differently as a manager?” You might be surprised by what you learn – and how quickly you’ll grow.  

Get in touch with Goodwin Recruiting if you’re working to build a stronger team or advance your career in management. Year after year, we’re recognized as a Forbes Best Recruitment Company for consistently delivering exceptional talent and recruitment services. 

Hiring Managers: Let us help you find your next exceptional hire for a key management role. 

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