As you enter your first leadership role, one question often emerges: Is there a definitive "best" leadership style? Well...

First, let's describe a leadership style: it is a leader's characteristic approach to providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people. It encompasses a leader's unique methods and strategies to inspire, guide, and manage a team or organization. This approach is often influenced by the leader's values, beliefs, experiences, and the specific needs or culture of the organization. Do you see how lovely the answer to our initial question started to reveal itself?

 Let's shine a light on the most popular and talked-about styles out there:  

1. Authentic Leadership revolves around being genuine in your values and beliefs, leading with integrity and transparency. This style encourages leaders to be themselves, fostering a trusting environment where honesty is valued.

• Best in: Environments that value openness and personal integrity.
• Pros: Fosters trust, encourages genuine connections.
• Cons: Challenging if personal values conflict with organizational culture.

2. Transactional Leadership is about clear structures and a focus on results. Leaders set defined goals and use rewards or penalties to motivate employees. It's very much about 'give and take,' where performance is key.

• Best in: Structured settings with clear tasks and goals.
• Pros: Clarity in expectations, motivates through rewards.
• Cons: Can neglect employee engagement and stifle creativity.

3. Autocratic Leadership: in autocratic Leadership, decision-making is centralized with the leader. This style is marked by clear, directive leadership, often seen in high-stakes, urgent decision-making scenarios.

• Best in: Situations requiring quick, decisive actions.
• Pros: Efficient, straightforward decision-making.
• Cons: Can lower morale, limit team input.

4. Servant Leadership: this approach puts the team first, focusing on their growth and well-being. A servant leader supports and empowers their team, creating an environment of collaboration and mutual respect.

• Best in: Collaborative environments.
• Pros: High team morale, ethical and inclusive.
• Cons: Slower decision-making, potential underuse of authority.

5. Transformational Leadership: transformational leaders are visionaries. They inspire and motivate their teams to innovate and embrace change. This style involves guiding employees through encouragement and by setting compelling visions for the future.

• Best in: Dynamic, changing environments.
• Pros: Encourages innovation and development.
• Cons: Risk of over-dependence on the leader's vision.

6. Laissez-Faire Leadership: Laissez-faire leadership is characterized by minimal supervision. Leaders provide the resources and tools, then step back, allowing team members to take the lead in decision-making and problem-solving.

• Best in: Skilled, autonomous teams.
• Pros: Encourages self-reliance and creativity.
• Cons: Risks lack of direction, disjointed efforts.

7. Democratic Leadership: This style is marked by participatory decision-making, involving team members in harnessing diverse perspectives. It's about building consensus and valuing each team member's input.

• Best in: Diverse team environments.
• Pros: Increases engagement, fosters diversity of thought.
• Cons: Potentially time-consuming decision-making.

I am sure that just by reading, some styles resonate with you more than others. This is natural because it derives from your values, beliefs, and experiences (remember the 1st paragraph?) But here are two more things you need to consider: 

1.)  Your specific situation. The company you're part of could range from a budding start-up to one grappling with a critical situation, undergoing rapid growth, or undergoing a complete transformation. In such diverse contexts, applying an appropriate leadership style becomes crucial. Situations often warrant a fusion of different leadership approaches because real-world scenarios require a proper understanding of the unique challenges of your industry and organization. For instance, a tech start-up may thrive under a blend of transformational and democratic Leadership. In contrast, a traditional corporate environment might benefit more from a synergistic application of transactional and servant leadership styles.

2.) The trends. 4 years ago, "Corona" was predominantly associated with a famous beer brand, the vast majority of people didn't even know what AI stood for, inflation rates were stable, and interest rates remained low. Today, we find ourselves adapting to a post-Corona virus world where remote work has become the norm, AI plays a significant role in various aspects of our lives, the cost of goods has soared, and interest rates are continually rising as a strategic response to combat inflation. We all know the world is changing fast, but if you went to a colleague four years ago, you graduated in a completely different world today.

Which brings us to the common denominator of both points: adaptability. The most effective leaders are and will be those who can skillfully blend traditional leadership styles with these new trends. This might involve adopting a transformational approach while integrating AI tools for team management or combining democratic leadership principles with remote team-building strategies. You need to embrace flexibility and a willingness to continually learn and adapt.

So, coming back to the original question, I believe it is safe to say the following:  

• There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the best leadership style for a new manager. It's a balance that depends on the specific context—whether it's an organizational change, a period of growth, a crisis...
• Equally important is understanding who you want to be as a leader. Integrating your strengths and values with a style that resonates with your team and organizational culture is vital. 

I genuinely believe that if you have the mindset of a high performer, care deeply about your team, the result, the culture, and are willing to do whatever it takes for your team to succeed, then I'm sure you'll find the best way for you to lead.

Watch a short video on YouTube: What is the best leadership style for new managers

ACTION STEPS:

1. Understand your company's context: Identify your company's current phase – is it experiencing growth, facing a crisis, undergoing transformation, or is it a start-up? Align this understanding with the organization's objectives.
2. Reflect on your leadership identity: Dedicate time to reflect on your personal values, beliefs, and past leadership experiences (if you have them). Evaluate how these elements resonate with various leadership styles.
3. Engage with your team and culture: Deeply familiarize yourself with your team dynamics and the prevailing culture within your company.
4. Implement and evaluate: Practice the leadership style that aligns with your insights. Observe the results closely and actively seek feedback from peers, your team, and superiors to refine your approach.