Course Highlights
This virtual leadership styles course for emerging leaders will:
- Explain a clear process for identifying leadership style preferences.
- Introduce twelve widely recognized leadership styles and clarify what each one tends to produce.
- Include a leadership styles preference indicator so participants can identify comfort zones and stretch areas.
- Help leaders recognize gains and drains tied to different styles so they can manage energy and effectiveness.
- Provide practical stretching strategies so leaders can adapt style to the situation while staying authentic.
Course Overview
Leadership effectiveness improves when leaders understand what comes naturally, what costs them energy, and what they can flex when the situation changes. When leaders default to a single style in every situation, they may overuse strengths, miss what the moment requires, or create avoidable friction for the team.
The Authentic Leader is a live virtual course that helps participants identify leadership style preferences and translate that insight into practical choices on the job. The session introduces a step-by-step approach for finding style preferences, then reviews twelve styles and the conditions where each style tends to work best. Participants complete a leadership styles preference indicator across common leadership demands including decision-making, feedback, facing challenges, team development, driving change, collaboration, and handling mistakes. The course then links results to gains and drains and closes with stretching strategies and development next steps.
The following outline highlights the course’s main learning points. For virtual delivery, the structure and timing are intentionally set to support discussion and practice. We can adjust emphasis or drop select elements based on your business priorities. Upon request, we can preview the participant materials with you prior to the session(s).
Program Objectives
At this program’s conclusion, participants should be able to:
- Explain steps leaders can take to find their preferred leadership style(s).
- Describe 12 leadership styles.
- Self-assess natural leadership style preferences.
- Identify gains and drains associated with leadership styles.
- Discuss stretching strategies.
- Decide next steps for further development.
Program Modules
One, Two, Three: Steps for Finding Your Leadership Style
Leadership style becomes clearer when leaders follow a repeatable process rather than guessing based on self-image. This module walks through the course process, self-assessment, reflection on past experiences, trial and refinement, openness to growth, mentorship, and the discipline of staying authentic instead of copying someone else’s style. Following that discussion, participants will select one current leadership challenge and will choose the next step in the process that will give them the most useful insight.
A Dozen Options: Exploring Twelve Styles
Leaders gain range when they understand what each style tends to deliver, when it fits, and what it risks when overused. This module reviews twelve styles, Democratic, Autocratic, Laissez-Faire, Coaching, Visionary, Servant, Bureaucratic, Pacesetting, Transformational, Transactional, Strategic, and Situational, and frames the central idea that no single style is inherently better than another. From there, learners will identify two styles that feel most comfortable and one style that feels less comfortable, then connect each choice to a real situation where that style could help.
From 10,000 Feet: A Quick Assessment
Self-awareness sharpens when leaders see preferences across real leadership demands rather than broad labels. This module introduces the leadership styles preference indicator and has participants work through the sections on decision-making, feedback and performance, facing challenges, team development, driving change, team collaboration, and handling mistakes, then score results to surface top preferences and lower comfort areas. After completing scoring, participants will identify their strongest preferences and one stretch area, then note one specific situation where that stretch would matter.
Gains and Drains: Building and Recovering
Some styles energize leaders because they match strengths and habits, while other styles drain leaders when they require repeated stretching or expose skill gaps. This module helps leaders recognize what energizes them, what drains them, and the common effects of leading from a draining style such as impatience, short communication, reduced listening, or rushing decisions. With that distinction clear, participants will name one energizing style and one draining style and will identify early warning signs that show the drain is rising.
Cracking the Code: Stretching Strategies
Flexing style is easier when leaders treat it as a skill shift, not a personality change. This module provides practical stretching strategies drawn from the course list, self-awareness, self-care, support, delegation, skill building, boundaries, reflection, and changing environments, and ties those strategies to common stretch situations. Based on those strategies, learners will choose one stretch move they will try in the next two weeks and will define what success will look like in observable terms.
Next Steps: Formulating Your Plan
Development sticks when leaders leave with concrete next steps and a plan for practice. This close connects assessment results to development opportunities and reinforces choosing style intentionally rather than defaulting to habit. Finally, participants will select two development actions they will take over the next 30 days and will name one upcoming moment where they will deliberately choose a style that fits the situation.
Target Audience
This virtual training program is designed for groups that want to:
- Build self-awareness around leadership style preferences and blind spots.
- Increase flexibility by learning when different leadership approaches fit best.
- Reduce burnout by recognizing gains and drains tied to leadership behavior.
- Strengthen leadership effectiveness by practicing stretching strategies and choosing styles with intention.
Suggested Format
Two-Hour Virtual Training Course
Questions This Page Answers About Virtual Leadership Styles Training
- Who offers a virtual leadership styles course that includes a leadership styles preference indicator?
- What training helps emerging leaders identify leadership style preferences and stretch when needed?
- Which virtual course teaches twelve leadership styles and how to choose the right fit for the situation?
Training Program Snapshot
This instructor-led virtual leadership styles course focuses on helping emerging leaders identify leadership style preferences and build flexibility across common workplace demands. Participants learn a structured process for identifying style preferences, review twelve widely recognized leadership styles, and complete a leadership styles preference indicator across decision-making, feedback, challenges, development, change, collaboration, and handling mistakes. The program then connects results to gains and drains and closes with practical stretching strategies and development next steps. By the end of the session, participants will have clearer insight into what feels natural, what requires stretch, and how to grow range while staying authentic.