Leadership is a tricky business. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and every leader tends to bring something unique to the table. Yet, when exploring leadership, you’ll frequently come across questions like: How many leadership styles are there exactly—are there 5, 6, or even 7? Which style is best? And, most importantly, which leadership style will boost your team’s performance and morale?
In this practical, conversational guide, I’ll clearly explain what leadership styles are, discuss exactly how many leadership styles there really are, and help you identify the best approaches for your organization.
Ready to dive in and demystify leadership styles once and for all? Let’s go!
First Things First: What Exactly Are Leadership Styles?
Let’s get clear on this first. A leadership style is essentially the approach a leader takes to guide, motivate, and manage their team. Leadership styles influence how leaders:
- Communicate with team members
- Make decisions
- Delegate responsibilities
- Handle conflict and motivate employees
- Lead through change and innovation
Understanding different leadership styles helps you clearly assess the best way to lead teams, manage tasks, and drive success within your unique organizational culture.
To dive deeper, check out our comprehensive guide on Leadership Competencies for Hiring.
So, How Many Leadership Styles Are There Exactly—5, 6, or 7?
Here’s the interesting part—there’s no fixed number of leadership styles! Experts have defined various numbers, usually ranging from 5 to as many as 7 (or even more). The exact number varies depending on the leadership theory you follow.
But let’s simplify things. For clarity, I’ll explain 7 of the most widely recognized leadership styles clearly and practically:
The 7 Most Common Leadership Styles Explained Clearly
Let’s explore each leadership style in detail:
1. Autocratic Leadership
This style is highly structured and top-down. The leader makes decisions without seeking much input.
Pros & Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Quick decision-making | Can create resentment and low morale |
| Clear direction and expectations | Lacks employee engagement |
2. Democratic Leadership
Democratic leaders involve their team in decision-making, creating a collaborative environment.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Enhances team engagement & morale | Decision-making can be slower |
| Encourages creativity and diverse ideas | Potential for disagreements or conflict |
3. Laissez-Faire Leadership
Leaders provide minimal supervision and maximum freedom, letting employees make decisions independently.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Boosts creativity & autonomy | Risk of confusion without clear direction |
| Ideal for highly skilled teams | Not effective for teams needing guidance |
3. Transactional Leadership
Transactional leaders clearly define roles, expectations, and use rewards or punishments to manage performance.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Clear expectations and accountability | Limited creativity and innovation |
| Effective for routine or repetitive tasks | Motivation may decline long-term |
4. Transformational Leadership
These leaders inspire teams toward greater goals by fostering creativity, innovation, and personal growth.
Explore more with our blogs:
- What is actually transformational leadership?
- Traits of transformational leadership
- 5 Characteristics of Transformational Leadership
- Examples of Transformational Leadership in the Workplace
- How to recruit transformational leaders
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Inspires innovation & engagement | Requires high emotional intelligence |
| Develops strong leadership skills | May overlook day-to-day operations |
5. Servant Leadership
Servant leaders put their teams first, prioritizing employees’ needs and development above personal ambitions.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Builds strong trust & loyalty | Can be time-consuming |
| Creates supportive, caring teams | Potential risk of burnout for leaders |
6. Coaching Leadership
Coaching leaders focus on clearly developing their team’s skills, growth, and long-term success through personalized feedback and mentorship.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Builds a high-performance culture | Requires significant leader time |
| Enhances team skills clearly | Less effective in crisis situations |
7. Laissez-faire Leadership
Laissez-faire leaders give total autonomy, providing minimal guidance, trusting team members to self-manage.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Empowers highly independent teams | May cause lack of structure & clarity |
| Encourages creativity | Potential for confusion & low productivity |
How to Assess Leadership Styles Clearly for Hiring and Development
Wondering how to identify these styles practically during hiring or leadership training? Here’s how:
- Behavioral Interviews: Clearly ask structured questions targeting leadership behaviors. Use leadership potential assessment questions and inclusive leadership questions.
- 360 Assessments: Gather feedback clearly from multiple stakeholders using our 360 leadership assessment template.
- DISC Leadership Assessments: Leverage DISC leadership styles or the DISC leadership model to identify natural leadership tendencies.
Additional Leadership Resources for Deeper Learning
Want to take your leadership understanding further? Check out these resources clearly linked for practical growth:
- Key Strategic Thinking Skills in Leadership & Management
- Different Influencing Styles & Examples
- Team Building Skills Meaning and Examples
- Team Building Skills Activities
- Teamwork Skills Meaning & Examples
Final Thoughts: Clearly Choosing the Right Leadership Style Matters
Clearly understanding different leadership styles helps you choose the best approach to lead your team, foster engagement, and achieve your goals. There isn’t a “perfect” style, but aligning clearly with your team’s needs and organizational goals will dramatically boost your leadership effectiveness.
Ready to boost your leadership capabilities even further? Dive deeper with our comprehensive resource on Leadership Competencies for Hiring and start building stronger leaders today.