How to Lead Like a High Performer: 9 Leadership Styles That Drive Success
Great leadership isn’t about barking orders.
It’s about inspiring people, building trust, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
In today’s fast-changing world, sticking to just one leadership style won’t cut it. The best leaders know how to adapt, because people are different, and they need different forms of leadership to succeed.
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| Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash |
Whether you’re guiding a team through big changes, sparking creativity, or helping individuals grow, the right approach can make all the difference.
In this article, we’ll break down nine powerful leadership styles and show you when to use each one to lead like a true high performer.
1. Visionary Leadership
Example: Elon Musk (Tesla)
How it works: Visionary leaders inspire by painting a bold, exciting future. They thrive on innovation and big-picture thinking.
Benefits: Creates excitement, especially during uncertainty. Helps teams see the “why” behind the work.
Drawbacks: Can overlook details and practical constraints. May frustrate teams if the vision feels unrealistic or lacks clear steps.
Practical tip: Share your vision often, but pair it with actionable plans.
When to use: During times of change or transformation, when teams need a clear direction and motivation to embrace new opportunities.
2. Bureaucratic Leadership
Example: Indra Nooyi (Pepsi)
How it works: This style emphasizes rules, procedures,and consistency. It ensures stability and compliance in complex organizations.
Benefits: Reduces risk and keeps operations smooth in regulated environments.
Drawbacks: Can slow decision-making and stifle creativity. Employees may feel restricted or undervalued.
Practical tip: Balance structure with flexibility. Too much rigidity can kill innovation.
When to use: In highly regulated industries or when precision and reliability are critical.
3. Pace-Setting Leadership
Example: Steve Jobs (Apple)
How it works: Pace-setters lead by example. They set high standards and expect others to keep up.
Benefits: Drives excellence and speed. Motivates high performers to push (their) boundaries.
Drawbacks: Creates stress and burnout if expectations are unrealistic. Can lead to high turnover.
Practical tip: Use sparingly. Constant pressure can damage morale.
When to use: With skilled, self-motivated teams that thrive under pressure and fast-paced environments.
4. Commanding Leadership
Example: Angela Merkel (former chancellor of Germany)
How it works: Commanding leaders take charge decisively, giving clear directives without room for ambiguity.
Benefits: Brings order in chaos. Ideal for urgent situations where quick decisions matter.
Drawbacks: Can feel authoritarian and reduce trust. Limits creativity and input from the team.
Practical tip: Explain decisions when possible to maintain respect and buy-in.
When to use: In crises or urgent situations where quick, authoritative action is essential.
5. Servant Leadership
Example: Mahatma Gandhi (Lawyer, publicist, pacifist, …)
How it works: Servant leaders prioritize the needs of others which fosters trust and collaboration.
Benefits: Builds loyalty and strong team culture. Encourages empowerment and shared responsibility.
Drawbacks: Can lead to lack of authority or slow decision-making. Risk of being taken advantage of.
Practical tip: Serve without losing sight of organizational goals.
When to use: When building strong relationships and empowering teams to take ownership.
6. Charismatic Leadership
Example: Martin Luther King Jr. (pastor and civil rights activist)
How it works: Charismatic leaders inspire through passion and vision, creating emotional connections that drive commitment.
Benefits: Sparks enthusiasm and unity. Helps teams overcome fear and resistance.
Drawbacks: Can create dependency on the leader. If charisma fades, motivation drops.
Practical tip: Back your words with consistent action. Charisma alone isn’t enough.
When to use: When rallying people around a cause or motivating them during challenging times.
7. Democratic Leadership
Example: Nelson Mandela (former president of South Africa)
How it works: Democratic leaders involve their teams in decision-making, valuing diverse perspectives.
Benefits: Boosts creativity, engagement, and ownership. It also builds trust through transparency.
Drawbacks: Decision-making can be slow. Risk of conflict if opinions clash.
Practical tip: Set clear boundaries. Collaboration doesn’t mean indecision.
When to use: When creativity and collaboration are key to success.
8. Coaching Leadership
Example: Oprah Winfrey (Oprah Winfrey Show)
How it works: Coaching leaders focus on personal growth, helping individuals develop skills and reach their potential.
Benefits: Strengthens talent pipeline and boosts long-term performance.
Drawbacks: Time-intensive. May frustrate results-driven environments where quick wins matter.
Practical tip: Combine coaching with clear performance expectations.
When to use: In long-term development scenarios or when nurturing emerging talent.
9. Delegative Leadership
Example: Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway)
How it works: Delegative leaders trust their teams to make decisions and manage tasks independently.
Benefits: Encourages autonomy and innovation. Frees leaders to focus on strategy.
Drawbacks: Can lead to confusion or lack of accountability if roles aren’t clear. Risk of poor decisions without oversight.
Practical tip: Provide clarity on goals and expectations, then step back. Avoid micromanaging.
When to use: With highly competent, self-driven professionals who excel without micromanagement.
Final thoughts
As you saw: every leadership style has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Great leaders, however, don’t stick to one style.
They adapt.
The key is knowing when to be visionary, when to coach and when to command. By mastering these approaches, you’ll not only lead effectively but also inspire your team to achieve extraordinary results.
Thank you for reading! This article was inspired by a LinkedIn post by Dr. Miro Bada - a doctor posting about leadership. Check out his LinkedIn.