The 5 Leadership Styles That Shaped Me

He never gave me answers—just better questions.

This leader called us "colleagues" and "experts," never "subordinates." He publicly celebrated the team and gave us the spotlight. But here’s the catch: If I went to him with a problem, he would throw it back at me—"What do YOU think we should do?" At first, it frustrated me. Then, it trained me to think like a leader. 

Lesson: The best leaders don’t solve your problems—they teach you to solve them yourself. 

He reminded me nothing always have to be so serious.

Laughter was this leader’s secret weapon. Tense meeting? A well-timed joke lightened the mood. High-pressure project? A quick laugh kept us sane. While I sometimes wished for more hands-on support, their ability to defuse stress taught me that a relaxed team is a creative team. 

Lesson: Culture matters. If people are too afraid to breathe, they’ll never take risks—or do their best work. 

This leader protected us like a shield.

Years of experience meant this leader knew exactly what our team should (and shouldn’t) work on. He said "no" so we didn’t drown in the overwhelming ocean of tasks, and he delegated with high precision. From this leader, I learned the power of boundaries—and that leadership isn’t just about doing more, but doing the right things.

Lesson: A leader’s job is to focus the team’s energy, not just amplify it. 

This one wasn’t afraid to own their authority.

This leader didn’t shy from hierarchy. Phrases like "I’m the manager" or “She works for me" rubbed me the wrong way—after all, we all work for the business, not a person.

But beneath the ego, there was a lesson: Unshakable self-belief. 

I have learned this way that: Confidence isn’t arrogance. You don’t have to shout your title, but you should know your worth. 

No single style I’ve come across is perfect—but every leader I’ve worked with taught me something valuable. Now, I borrow from all of them: 

• Be reliable, even if you’re not always visible.
• Push your team to think, not just execute.
• Keep the mood light—stress kills creativity.
• Protect your team’s time like it’s gold.
• Own your role—but wear your ego silently.