A successful leader knows that every team is unique, with different practices and preferences. As a senior professional, your leadership style doesn't just impact team morale, it shapes strategic execution, culture, retention, and long-term performance. However, even experienced leaders can default to habit instead of mindfully considering their leadership approach.
There are four core leadership styles highlighted in this assessment, each offering a different approach to influence and team performance: Directive, Visionary, Democratic, and Coaching.
This style focuses on clarity and decisiveness, making it highly effective in high-pressure or compliance-driven situations. While it ensures fast and structured decision-making, balancing strong direction with input from the team helps maintain morale and engagement.
Visionary leadership inspires teams and emphasizes the big picture, making it ideal for driving change and aligning efforts toward long-term goals. Success comes from combining inspiration with careful follow-through to ensure ideas turn into results.
Democratic leadership encourages collaboration and shared decision-making, fostering trust and inclusion within teams. While this approach strengthens commitment and collective problem-solving, it requires attention to maintain efficiency and avoid delays in decision-making.
Coaching leadership focuses on developing and empowering team members to achieve their potential. This style thrives in growth-oriented and learning-focused environments, but balancing guidance with accountability is essential to deliver consistent performance.
This self-assessment draws on four of the most commonly referenced leadership styles from Goleman’s emotional intelligence framework, along with other styles discussed in modern leadership literature. It provides insight into natural tendencies and areas for development. For those interested in exploring further, see works by Greenleaf, Bass & Avolio, and Goleman.
For each question, select the answer that most closely matches your typical leadership approach.