Have you ever wondered what kind of leader you are? Do you naturally inspire and innovate, or do you prefer structure and precision? Leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach—it evolves with experience, environment, and organizational culture.

My journey with Toastmasters helped me discover my leadership style through the Discover Your Leadership Style questionnaire. This experience gave me clarity on where I thrive and how I lead best.

The Leadership Compass: Finding My True North

Looking back at my career, I realized that I was most successful in:

• Start-ups
• Organizations undergoing transformation
• Teams executing new processes or change inititatives

Through these experiences,, I identified my dominant leadership styles as:

• Innovative & Altruistic – I thrive in creative problem-solving and fostering growth in others.
• Affiliative & Democratic – I prioritize teamwork, inclusion, and adaptability.
• Least Preferred: Bureaucratic, Pacesetting, Authoritative – While sometimes necessary, these styles don’t align with my natural strengths.

This discovery reaffirmed an important lesson:
Leadership isn’t just about style—it’s about knowing when to adapt.

The S.T.Y.L.E. Framework: Key Traits of Great Leaders

While leadership styles can be learned, certain core attributes set exceptional leaders apart. The acronym S.T.Y.L.E. captures these essential traits:

• S – Self-Accountability: Taking ownership of actions, decisions, and their outcomes.
• T – Transparent Communication: Clarity, honesty, and active listening build trust.
• Y – Yielding to Change: Adaptability is crucial in evolving workplaces.
• L – Leading with Integrity: A strong moral compass defines respected leaders.
• E – Emotional Intelligence: Empathy and awareness drive team success.

No matter your leadership style, embodying S.T.Y.L.E. will help you navigate challenges with confidence.

Culture Shapes Leadership

One defining moment in my leadership journey came during a corporate merger. The investment banking team favored an authoritative and bureaucratic leadership, while the corporate banking team leaned towards empathy and adaptability.

This experience reinforced an important insight:

• Leadership style is influenced by organizational culture.
• Business goals and stakeholders shape the leadership approach.
• Entrepreneurs must blend styles and adapt to the situation.

Whether you’re leading a startup, managing a team, or driving transformation, understanding different leadership styles can enhance your effectiveness and align you with your team’s needs.

Final Thought: Leadership is Situational

In academics, answers depend on the question.
In leadership, style depends on the situation.

The best leaders don’t stick to one approach—they adapt, inspire, and evolve.

So, what’s your leadership style, and how will you use it to make an impact?

Would love to hear your thoughts—what leadership style resonates with you?

About the author:
Kannan Gopal began his Toastmasters journey about a year ago at Mississauga Valley Toastmasters Club in Ontario, Canada. He also serves as the club’s Treasurer and volunteers as an Effective Speaking and Leadership coach for the 800 Black Forest Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

With a passion for storytelling, Kannan crafts speeches that weave life lessons, inspiration, and motivation into every message. His ability to connect with audiences through engaging narratives has shaped his growth as a speaker. This blog is his way of sharing one such realization, and trusting it will offer both insight and inspiration—a read worth your time.

Credits:
Picture: https://pixabay.com/

Visit our Mississauga Valley Toastmasters club at Burnhamthorpe Community Centre to find wonderful fellow toastmasters and a beautiful community.

Created by Kannan Gopal, Mississauga Valley Toastmasters