Understanding your style as a leader can affect how you lead your team members and help you find your strengths. Here are some examples of common leadership styles and their characteristics.

1. Transformational leadership. This leadership style highlights change and transformation, encouraging team members to fulfill their potential. Other characteristics include a focus on the future, change, and people.
2. Delegative leadership. This style is often identified as being hands-off, as it focuses on delegating initiative to others. These leaders allow their team members to use their creativity and experience to meet their goals, but it can be challenging to understand who is ultimately in charge.
3. Authoritative leadership. Leaders with this style often consider themselves mentors to their team, and they tend to inspire others around them. They provide their teams with guidance and feedback but should be careful not to micromanage.
4. Participative leadership. Also known as democratic leadership, this style encourages leaders to listen to their team members and include them in decisions. This style can lead to teams working together to identify problems and come up with solutions instead of assigning individual blame.

Many leaders blend leadership styles, rather than fitting into just one type. 

For more information, read “The 6 most common leadership styles and how to find yours” from the International Institute for Management Development.