Introduction
Not every leader fits the same mold—and not every team responds to the same approach. That’s why understanding the leadership styles that suit a manager is critical for sustained success. Leadership isn’t about following a single playbook; it’s about knowing when to lead from the front, when to step back, when to coach, and when to challenge. The most effective managers are those who adapt their leadership style to suit the situation, the team, and the organizational context.
This course explores a wide spectrum of leadership styles and helps managers identify the ones that align best with their personality, team dynamics, and business objectives. It goes beyond theory, guiding participants to reflect on their default tendencies, learn alternative methods, and apply different styles based on real-world scenarios. Whether you’re a seasoned manager seeking to evolve or an emerging leader building your toolkit, this course provides the insight and practice to lead with agility, authenticity, and effectiveness.
Who Should Attend
This course is tailored for professionals currently in management roles or preparing for leadership responsibilities. It is especially beneficial for:
- Mid-Level Managers responsible for guiding teams, projects, and cross-functional work
- Team Leaders navigating different personalities, performance levels, and work cultures
- HR and L&D Professionals coaching managers on leadership development
- Entrepreneurs and Start-up Founders managing growing teams
- Department Heads seeking to refine their influence and leadership presence
- Future Leaders preparing for people management roles in evolving environments
Latest Trends in Leadership Styles that Suit a Manager
In a workplace shaped by diversity, disruption, and hybrid models, leadership style is no longer a fixed trait—it’s a dynamic competency. Modern managers must understand multiple leadership styles and be ready to apply them fluidly. Here are the top trends transforming leadership style development:
Situational and Adaptive Leadership
Rigid, one-size-fits-all leadership approaches are outdated. Managers today are expected to assess context and choose the most effective leadership style in response. Situational leadership models—such as the Hersey-Blanchard framework—help managers flex between directive and supportive approaches depending on their team’s needs.
Coaching as a Core Leadership Style
The coaching style is gaining momentum as employees seek more development, feedback, and autonomy. Managers who lead like coaches ask powerful questions, foster accountability, and prioritize growth over control. This approach is especially effective with high-potential individuals and self-driven teams.
Inclusive and Participatory Leadership
With greater focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), participatory leadership styles—such as democratic or transformational leadership—are being emphasized. These styles value diverse perspectives, empower collaboration, and foster a sense of ownership among team members.
Leading Remotely and Digitally
Virtual work environments require managers to rethink their leadership style. The authoritative or micromanaging style often backfires in hybrid teams, while styles emphasizing trust, autonomy, and clear communication—such as visionary or affiliative leadership—tend to succeed.
Emotionally Intelligent Leadership
Leaders with high emotional intelligence are better able to recognize when a change in style is needed. They use empathy, self-awareness, and social skill to adapt their approach, making their leadership more impactful and sustainable.
Course Content Overview
The course combines practical learning, behavioral assessment tools, team simulations, and leadership scenario analysis. Participants will leave with a personalized leadership style map and an action plan to evolve their leadership approach.
Module 1: The Foundations of Leadership Styles
- What makes leadership effective?
- Overview of key leadership styles: directive, supportive, transformational, transactional, coaching, servant, autocratic, democratic
- How leadership style impacts morale, performance, and innovation
Module 2: Assessing Your Default Style
- Self-assessment using validated leadership style inventories
- Understanding how personality, experience, and culture shape your leadership approach
- Feedback-seeking tools to understand how others perceive your leadership
Module 3: Situational and Adaptive Leadership
- Applying the Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Model
- Matching style to follower readiness and task complexity
- Shifting style mid-project or mid-conversation when needed
Module 4: Coaching, Empowering, and Listening as a Leader
- The difference between managing and coaching
- Tools for growth-focused conversations
- Encouraging autonomy, initiative, and continuous learning
Module 5: Visionary and Transformational Leadership
- How to use vision, values, and storytelling to inspire
- Driving engagement and performance through purpose and passion
- Identifying opportunities for transformational change
Module 6: Inclusive and Participatory Leadership
- Strategies for involving team members in decisions
- Mitigating bias in leadership style and behavior
- Leading diverse teams with cultural and generational awareness
Module 7: Style Selection in Practice
- Matching leadership style to specific team challenges: conflict, crisis, motivation gaps, creativity blocks
- Role-playing different styles in workplace scenarios
- Recognizing when your style is helping—or hindering—progress
Module 8: Developing Your Leadership Style Toolkit
- Creating a personalized leadership flexibility matrix
- Receiving peer and instructor feedback
- Building a 90-day plan to strengthen underused leadership styles and optimize your impact
You may also be interested in other courses in the Leadership Development
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course Leadership Styles that Suit a Manager, participants will be able to:
- Understand a variety of leadership theories and styles, including transformational, transactional, servant, autocratic, democratic, coaching, and situational models
- Assess their natural or preferred leadership style using reflection tools and self-assessments
- Recognize the strengths and limitations of each leadership style in different team and organizational contexts
- Adapt their leadership approach based on team maturity, motivation, task urgency, and culture
- Apply coaching and mentoring principles as a leadership style
- Engage diverse teams through inclusive and participatory leadership techniques
- Lead with greater emotional intelligence, using awareness and empathy to fine-tune their approach
- Deliver clear guidance without micromanaging, and support autonomy without losing accountability
- Build and maintain trust across in-person, hybrid, and remote teams using style-conscious leadership
- Develop a personal leadership growth plan based on strengths, gaps, and feedback
Outcome for the Course Sponsor
Organizations that support leadership style development at the management level gain more adaptable, self-aware, and effective leaders—translating to stronger team performance and culture. Key benefits include:
1. Increased Leadership Versatility
Managers become capable of applying the most appropriate style in various situations, improving decision-making, team responsiveness, and overall agility.
2. Enhanced Team Engagement and Motivation
By choosing leadership styles that suit both individuals and teams, managers create stronger relationships, boost morale, and foster ownership of results.
3. Reduced Conflict and Miscommunication
When managers understand how their style affects others, they reduce unintentional friction, especially across diverse or remote teams.
4. Better Retention of Talent
People leave managers, not companies. Versatile and emotionally intelligent leaders are more likely to retain high-potential employees by leading with respect, clarity, and support.
5. Strengthened Leadership Pipeline
This course equips mid-level leaders with tools and self-insight that prepare them for more senior roles—ensuring continuity and strength in future leadership.
6. A More Resilient Leadership Culture
Managers trained in multiple styles contribute to an organizational culture that is adaptive, inclusive, and aligned with modern leadership expectations.