Leadership is not one-size-fits-all. Different situations and team dynamics call for different approaches, and effective leaders know when to adapt their style. Psychologist Daniel Goleman identified six primary leadership styles – coaching, affiliative, democratic, visionary, pacesetting and commanding – that each have unique benefits and challenges.
In a previous post, we looked at the 6 different styles, and when to use them.
In this post, we’ll look at real-world examples of leaders who have used these styles to make a significant impact.
1. Coaching Leadership: Guiding and Growing Talent
Eric Schmidt at Google – As CEO, Eric Schmidt adopted a coaching approach that was particularly effective in nurturing Google’s high-performance culture. Schmidt worked closely with Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, helping them to refine their vision and leadership skills.
Schmidt encouraged innovation by guiding rather than dictating, helping Google grow from a start-up into a tech giant. His coaching leadership helped employees build confidence, take ownership, and continue evolving.
2. Affiliative Leadership: Building Emotional Bonds
Oprah Winfrey – Known for her empathic and approachable style, Oprah Winfrey exemplifies affiliative leadership. Throughout her career, both on her talk show and in her media business, Oprah has fostered close-knit teams and environments where people feel safe to share openly.
Her deep empathy for others has been a driving force behind her success, enabling her to connect meaningfully with her audience and colleagues.
Oprah’s affiliative approach has been instrumental in building a loyal team and creating a brand based on trust.
3. Democratic Leadership: Inviting Participation and Collaboration
Indra Nooyi at PepsiCo – As CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi exemplified democratic leadership by encouraging open dialogue across all levels of the organisation. She actively sought input from her team on major initiatives, including PepsiCo’s health and sustainability shifts.
Nooyi’s collaborative approach led to greater buy-in and engagement across the company. This collective input helped PepsiCo transition into a health-conscious and sustainability-focused brand, aligning with evolving consumer preferences.
4. Visionary Leadership: Inspiring with a Long-Term Vision
Nelson Mandela – Nelson Mandela demonstrated visionary leadership throughout his life, especially during his efforts to dismantle apartheid in South Africa. His vision of a unified, democratic South Africa inspired millions, guiding his people toward equality, justice, and freedom.
Despite facing imprisonment and significant adversity, Mandela never wavered from his vision of a peaceful and inclusive nation. His leadership was grounded in purpose, resilience, and optimism, making him a powerful example of how visionary leadership can bring about profound societal change.
Mandela’s influence helped unite South Africans and fostered a sense of hope and commitment to reconciliation.
5. Pacesetting Leadership: Setting High Standards and Expectations
Jeff Bezos at Amazon – Jeff Bezos has been described as a classic pacesetting leader. His high standards and relentless drive for excellence pushed Amazon to continuously innovate and optimise operations.
Known for expecting efficiency and top performance, Bezos’ leadership style kept Amazon at the forefront of technology and e-commerce. Although demanding, his pacesetting approach created a culture that rewards initiative and high achievement, positioning Amazon as one of the world’s most valuable companies.
6. Commanding Leadership: Leading with Authority and Control
Mary Barra at General Motors – When Mary Barra became CEO of GM in 2014, the company was dealing with a major recall crisis involving defective ignition switches.
Barra adopted a commanding leadership approach to address the situation head-on, prioritising transparency and accountability. She implemented strict protocols to ensure safety and quality, leading GM through one of its most challenging periods.
Barra’s decisive actions and clear instructions helped restore public trust in GM, highlighting how commanding leadership can be crucial in navigating a crisis.
An important note
Each of these six leadership styles offers unique advantages and is suited to different circumstances. However, each of them, if misused, can have a significantly negative and even damaging impact. When and how to use them needs to be fully understood and carefully considered.
In Summary
From Eric Schmidt’s coaching at Google to Mary Barra’s commanding approach at GM, these real-world examples show that effective leaders are versatile and adapt their style based on their team’s needs and the challenges they face. By understanding these styles, leaders can make conscious choices about how best to guide their teams, inspire growth, and achieve remarkable results.
If you or your team would benefit from training or coaching around the different leadership styles, and when or how to employ them, or any of the other leadership, communication and soft skills required to develop outstanding leaders and high performing teams, please book in for a free, no obligation Discovery Session, email us at info@full-potential.com.au, or call us on +61 412 403 373. We’d love to chat with you!
