Moving from one leadership style to another

July 15, 2025 By Aaron Huizenga 0 Comments

Looking at the seven leadership styles we’ve discussed, Democratic, Autocratic, Laissez-Faire, Transitional, Transactional, Bureaucratic and Servant, did you fall into the category that you thought you would? If not, why not? What category did you prefer?

This month, I want to share some ways to help you switch between different styles and move from where you are to where you want to be next. There are several factors that need to be taken into account in this style-blending approach.

First, your personality. Your personality will drive your leadership styles. It is the foundation, if you will, that you are going to build upon. Then we have the level and experience of the team that you are leading. Next is the organization you are working with, whether it be based around growth, innovation or retaining market share. These all play a part in how you build your personal leadership style. Once you have gathered the necessary blocks to build on your personality foundation, you will need to know the plans as to what exactly you are building, as different blocks and styles will need to be used at different times and in unique orders based on your plan.

Let’s say that you are launching a brand-new product. Where are you going to start? Most likely in the Democratic style, collecting thoughts and ideas, initiating conversation and groupthink. You and the rest of your team are sharing and collaborating on exactly how each of you is going to approach this launch. As you move through this phase and the project continues, you will find yourself in the Servant and Laissez-Faire roles, and ideas are explored and roadblocks are either found or overcome. In this scenario, you have already used three leadership styles, and although we aren’t ready to launch this product yet, you are still the leader.

Moving into the next phase of this project, you will most likely take on, even for the time being, the Autocratic role. At some point, specific tasks are going to be assigned to work groups, deadlines are going to need to be set and follow-up metrics identified. Then you can move toward a Transformational leader, building up the team, supporting their efforts and coaching to get the most out of them that they may not have even thought possible. Now you are up to five styles, and you may not have even realized it. You may or may not have spent a long time in any of these styles, but you know them and can turn them on and off as necessary to achieve the desired outcome.

As you have worked on your upgrades and come to understand the need to seamlessly move from one leadership style to another, your effectiveness as a leader has increased. Your team is firing on all cylinders and knows their specific roles in the long-range vision that you, as the leader, put before them. You have elevated your game and are self-aware enough that as you move through the process, you may have to move back into another style if things stall or regress. Then you shift styles again and begin to reinitiate forward progress. You have trained yourself as a leader to be hyper-aware not only of yourself and the style you are using, but also of the work and production of the team that has been assembled around your leadership.

Congratulations – you are an effective leader!

Let’s work on your upgrade!

Aaron Huizenga is East Division manager for Lakes Gas in Wisconsin. Reach him at ahuizenga@lakesgas.com.

Leadership lessons from Aaron Huizenga: How to lead with style, part two

Leadership lessons from Aaron Huizenga: How to lead with style