Four Types of Leadership Styles

During my career, I’ve worked with many different styles of leadership. Some I liked, and others were, to be very honest, brutal to the organizations and the people around them. However, one thing I found most intriguing was that the worst leaders never knew they were that bad. Either they dismissed feedback or never got any, which highlights another problem. Leadership at the top may be getting what is referred to as long in the tooth, not necessarily old, because it isn’t an age thing, it’s just that someone is out of touch and outdated in the same role for too long, and has lost their objectivity.

Here are four distinct types of leaders, categorized by mindset and behavior:

1. The Principled Leader
   Leads with principle, experience, and purpose. This leader listens, acts decisively, and earns respect through consistency and real-world understanding. They are often the “adult in the room” who guides others through complex challenges.

   • In Business: Makes principled decisions, even when they challenge short-term gains, and builds trust through consistent values.

   • In Politics: Stands firm on key issues, prioritizing long-term public interest over polling or pressures from local factions and coalitions.
     Consensus on this type of leader, if you can find them don’t let them go they tend to continue to develop themselves and others and add a great deal of value. 

2. The Popularity Leader
   Driven by the desire to be liked rather than to make hard decisions. They often change direction based on public opinion or internal politics, lacking a consistent core message or mission. You can spot them a mile away with all their selfies.

   • In Business: Flip-flops on strategies to please stakeholders, leading to confusion and lack of direction.

   • In Politics: Governs by chasing approval ratings, often changing stances to stay in public favor without delivering real progress.
     Consensus on this type of leadership. Tread carefully without experience in effective leadership they can create a great deal of damage. 

3. The Scripted Leader
   Operates from talking points, not personal insight. They are usually figureheads who rely heavily on advisors and spin, lacking depth or original vision. Their motivation is often tied to personal power rather than public service.

   • In Business: Relies heavily on consultants and buzzwords, showing little initiative or understanding of core operations.

   • In Politics: Speaks in rehearsed soundbites, avoids direct answers, and struggles when conversations go off script.
     Consensus on this type of leadership: Soundbites are not a sign of leadership too often they lack substance and commitment. 

4. The Power Leader
   Motivated by dominance rather than service. This leader is divisive, undermines trust, and often seeks to silence opposition or dissent. They thrive on creating chaos to maintain influence.

   • In Business: Centralizes authority, resists dissent, and builds a culture of fear rather than innovation. They also talk about others behind their backs with a means to undermine authority.

   • In Politics: Uses division and intimidation to hold power, often targeting critics and undermining democratic norms. They tend to work with or lead factions and coalitions with different agendas.
     Consensus on this type of leadership: Dangerous in any organization. 

I have thought about running for government office because it is an opportunity to help improve society’s outcomes based on people’s needs and not the needs of bureaucracy. I know the latter happens a lot, particularly at the municipal level, where household expenses from utilities to property taxes must come with accountability.

George Minakakis is the CEO of Inception Retail Group Inc. He’s the Board Chair for Milton Hydro and the Board Chair for ACTION Milton a community group brought together to protect rural and old Milton from an unnecessary quarry which will impact the water table. George, a former CEO and Country Manager. He has held senior-level positions working for Fortune 500 Companies he is also the author of four books all of which have been best sellers.