8 common leadership styles in the Philippines: Finding your own path to success

Leadership styles play a crucial role in shaping workplace culture in the Philippines. They can have an impact on employee engagement, work performance, and organizational success. The right leadership style can improve team morale and contribute to a positive work environment. 

If you want to become a leader, you must find your own leadership style. This can help you identify roles and companies that match your career goals. This article looks at eight common leadership styles and how to choose the right one. 

Here’s what we’ll explore to help you find your leadership fit: 

• What are leadership styles? 
• Autocratic leadership style 
• Democratic leadership style 
• Laissez-faire leadership style 
• Task-oriented leadership style 
• People-oriented leadership style 
• Coaching leadership style 
• Servant leadership style 
• Transformational leadership style 
• How to choose a leadership style 
• Developing your leadership style in the Philippines 
• FAQs

What are leadership styles? 

A leadership style is a distinct approach that you take to guide and manage your team. It represents how you treat and work with your team members. The way you lead reflects your personality, experience, and values. Every leader has a unique leadership style. If you want to become a leader, it's essential to find your own style. 

Your leadership style can significantly affect the success of your team and company. It determines how you manage your team, approach challenges, and make decisions. An effective leadership style can boost team dynamics, motivation, and performance. 

Great leaders know how to adapt their leadership style to suit different situations. Every style has its strengths and weaknesses. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. So, try out multiple styles and observe the results. 

It's essential to understand different types of leadership styles. This allows you to find jobs and companies that align with your goals and values. The right employer can help you reach your full leadership potential. 

1. Autocratic leadership style 

The autocratic leadership style is also called authoritarian leadership. An autocratic leader makes decisions alone and directs all the processes and goals. They rarely ask their team members for advice. This leadership style places emphasis on obedience and rule enforcement. A clear chain of command helps teams understand what’s expected of them. 

Autocratic leaders make confident and authoritative decisions. They thrive in fast-paced environments where quick decision-making is crucial. Their decisiveness can help an organization get through a crisis. This leadership style is effective in highly regulated industries. Examples include manufacturing, finance, and insurance. 

2. Democratic leadership style 

Democratic leadership is one of the most common leadership styles. Also known as participative leadership, it focuses on open communication, transparency, and collaboration. Democratic leaders invite their team members to participate in the decision-making process. 

The democratic leadership style makes employees feel empowered and valued. It can boost employee morale and support an innovative culture. Democratic leaders succeed in industries that value employee engagement and creativity. Examples include technology, hospitality, and marketing. 

However, democratic leadership can be inefficient and costly. Organizing discussions, brainstorming solutions, and communicating decisions can be time-consuming. This leadership style may not work in situations that require swift action. 

3. Laissez-faire leadership style 

Laissez-faire is among the least intrusive types of leadership styles. It focuses on delegating initiatives to team members and minimizing supervision. It avoids micromanagement and fosters autonomy and flexibility. Laissez-faire leaders often rely on employees' experience and intrinsic motivation to complete tasks. 

Laissez-faire leadership creates a relaxed work environment. As such, it can help increase employee retention rates. This hands-off approach works well with highly skilled or creative professionals. 

Even so, laissez-faire leaders can cause a decline in productivity. This often happens if team members are unclear about expectations. The laissez-faire style isn't suitable for managing new employees. It doesn't provide the hands-on support that new hires need to assimilate into their roles. 

4. Task-oriented leadership style 

Task-oriented leaders prioritize completing tasks and achieving the desired outcomes. They set clear goals, processes, and deadlines to ensure project completion. They use structured procedures to control tasks and monitor progress regularly. These leaders put a heavy emphasis on efficiency. They know how to identify and eliminate obstacles that can slow down a project. 

The task-oriented leadership style can lead to better productivity, efficiency, and quality control. It's ideal for projects with a tight deadline or high-level requirements. It's also effective for managing complex tasks that require detailed execution. 

One downside of task-oriented leadership is that it can demoralize employees. This may result in higher turnover rates. Additionally, task-oriented leaders can impede creativity and innovation in the workplace. They're also often resistant to change. 

5. People-oriented leadership style 

People-oriented leadership is also sometimes referred to as relationship-oriented leadership. This style mainly focuses on employee well-being and satisfaction. It improves interpersonal relationships among employees to create a positive work environment. Companies see employees as valued partners who choose to commit themselves to their jobs. 

People-oriented leaders encourage open communication. They also provide coaching to help employees improve their expertise. These leaders often reward achievements, making team members feel appreciated for their work. 

Successful people-oriented leadership can make employees more engaged, motivated, and loyal. This can help an organization become more productive and efficient. The people-oriented approach is well-suited for the health care, hospitality, and education sectors. 

People-oriented leaders need time and resources to build meaningful employee relationships. Also, the strong bond between leaders and followers can blur professional boundaries. Consequently, it can be difficult to enforce accountability. 

6. Coaching leadership style 

Coaching leaders focus on supporting employee development and growth. They can identify the strengths and weaknesses of employees. These leaders assist team members in setting development goals and provide constructive feedback. They establish clear expectations and contribute to a motivated workplace. 

Coaching leadership is beneficial for both employers and employees. It helps employees improve their skills, making them more valuable to their employers. It's a good fit for startups and companies with a young workforce. 

The coaching approach is one of the most underused types of leadership styles. Leaders need to spend one-on-one time with employees, which can be time-consuming. This style can cause problems in a deadline-driven environment. 

7. Servant leadership style 

Servant leaders have a people-first mindset. They believe that professionally and personally fulfilled employees deliver better work performance. Employees often respect servant leaders due to their emphasis on employee satisfaction. These leaders are usually excellent communicators and motivators. 

The servant leadership style can potentially boost productivity and loyalty within an organization. It also fosters employee development and helps create future leaders. This style of leadership is effective in social enterprises and nonprofit organizations. Servant leadership aligns with Filipino values such as paglilingkod (service) and pagmamalasakit (compassion). 

A study found that 60% of leaders feel drained at the end of the day. Servant leaders are more likely to burn themselves out compared to other leaders. That's because they put their team members' well-being before their own. An exhausted leader can have a negative impact on team performance and morale. In addition, servant leaders often have trouble being authoritative when they need to. 

8. Transformational leadership style 

Transformational leadership focuses on empowering employees to achieve their full potential. It promotes creativity and innovation and inspires individuals to exceed expectations. Transformational leaders take a hands-on approach to team management. They actively engage with team members and provide guidance and opportunities for growth. 

Transformational leadership fosters a sense of purpose. It aligns the personal goals of employees with the company's vision. This leadership style can lead to enhanced work performance and job satisfaction. It creates a motivated workforce dedicated to achieving a common goal. 

One drawback of transformational leadership is the risk of employee burnout. Leaders set high expectations for team members. This can cause them to feel strained. Also, it isn't easy to maintain this leadership approach across team members. 

How to choose a leadership style 

The key to becoming a great leader is determining which types of leadership styles work best for you. Follow these tips to make the right choice. 

Understand your purpose 

It's important to know exactly what you want to achieve as a leader. This helps you identify an effective leadership style for your objectives and goals. For instance, task-oriented leadership is ideal for getting things done quickly. 

Adopt multiple leadership styles 

Adaptability is important in today's rapidly changing workplace. Try to adopt multiple leadership styles instead of just one. This enables you to lead your team through unexpected challenges and changes. Experiment with as many approaches as you can. Then, select a few that suit your personality and a variety of situations. 

Be honest and flexible 

Your personality and values are part of what makes you an effective leader. You can learn from other leaders, but avoid emulating someone else. Practice self-reflection to determine which types of leadership styles feel right for you. You can also adjust common leadership styles to suit your personality. 

Get feedback 

Ask your team members what kind of leadership style they prefer. This gives you an idea of how they'll respond to your leadership. They may favor a more directive, relationship-oriented, or hands-off approach. 

Find a mentor 

If in doubt, consider getting a second opinion. A mentor can provide valuable advice to help you select the right leadership style. They can also share tips on how to become a great leader. 

Finding your leadership fit in the Philippines 

Great leadership doesn’t follow a single formula; it starts with knowing yourself. By understanding the different leadership styles and how they show up in Philippine workplaces, you can find the approach that works best for you and your team. 

Whether you lean toward being people-focused, results-driven, or somewhere in between, your leadership style can evolve as you grow. The key is to stay open, adapt to different situations, and learn from the people around you. 

With the right leadership mindset, you won’t just manage, you’ll help others thrive, too. 

FAQs 

Here's a list of commonly asked questions about leadership styles. 

1. What are the current trends in leadership styles in the Philippines? 
   ⁠Philippine companies have traditional hierarchical structures. Several other styles are gaining popularity due to the booming IT and business process outsourcing industries. These include democratic, laissez-faire, and people-oriented leadership. 
2. How do leadership styles impact employee engagement and productivity in the Philippines? 
   ⁠Different leadership styles have different effects on employee engagement and productivity. Laissez-faire, people-oriented, and servant leaders are effective in improving employee engagement. Organizations looking to boost productivity can adopt autocratic, task-oriented, or transformational approaches. 
3. How do Philippine companies implement democratic leadership? 
   ⁠Democratic leadership in Philippine companies emphasizes open communication and collaboration. It encourages team members to take part in the decision-making process. Democratic leaders focus on raising morale to create a positive work environment. 
4. How is servant leadership practiced in Philippine nonprofit organizations? 
   ⁠Servant leaders help nonprofit employees find fulfillment in their professional and personal lives. They emphasize employee collaboration and motivation. They also assist team members in improving their expertise and becoming future leaders. 
5. What are the most effective ways to develop leadership skills? 
   ⁠First, identify your own leadership style. You can practice your leadership skills by assuming leadership roles whenever you can. It's also a good idea to seek help from a coach or mentor. 
6. How do multinational companies adapt their leadership styles when operating in the Philippines? 
   ⁠Multinational companies employ adaptive leadership skills when operating in the Philippines. They embrace cultural differences and promote cross-cultural communication. Multinational companies commonly use transformational, servant, and democratic leadership styles.