10 Different Management Styles and How to Showcase Them on a Resume

When companies are hiring a new manager, they always want to understand each candidate's particular style to ensure they hire someone who fits their company culture. As a job seeker, it’s your job to make sure your resume properly highlights your unique managerial style. 

But what are the different management styles, and what’s the best way to showcase them on your resume?

What are management styles?

A management style includes all the various ways a manager wields authority to organize people, allocate and use resources, and achieve company goals and missions. Each management style encompasses everything from how a manager plans out the day to how they communicate with the members of their team. Most managers adopt styles that align with their personalities and attitudes.

Different management styles have evolved over time. While authoritarian management was once the dominant style – with managers simply demanding workers obey and follow instructions – today’s different styles of management have largely departed from that command-and-control structure. Modern managers employ more sophisticated methods as they organize and direct their teams.

1.     Top-down autocratic management

The top-down management style is well known and has been used throughout the history of commerce. Also known as the autocratic or coercive management style, it's characterized by an authoritarian manager who makes all decisions and expects the team to simply follow directions. You see this style of management in companies that are highly structured, with detailed rules and processes in place to guide and direct every employee's action.

While this top-down approach to decision-making can stunt employee innovation, it can be an effective way to manage inexperienced teams. It's also a useful strategy for managing crisis situations and can even enhance productivity when it provides the right guidance and structure.

However, too much top-down management can inhibit employee growth and development, destroy morale, and lead to a loss of creativity in the workforce. To counter that, many top-down managers also encourage at least some input from their teams to maintain employee engagement.

2.     Democratic management style

The democratic approach to management is pretty much what it sounds like. This type of manager avoids the top-down approach to leading a team, instead opting for a style that encourages employee participation in the decision-making process. The approach works to decentralize as much authority as possible, with managers working in collaboration with team members rather than dictating their every action. Often, these types of managers will create teams that are highly motivated and empowered.

The democratic management style can result in increased performance because teams feel they have a great deal of ownership in their results. In addition, teams built by democratic managers typically have high retention rates.

However, this style can also create problems when the collaborative decision-making process fails to produce consensus in a timely manner. To counter that, democratic managers tend to reserve the power to make the final decision when necessary.

3.     The lead-by-example management style

Managers who lead by example can be some of the most effective leaders in any team environment. These managers set clear objectives and expectations and work tirelessly to demonstrate the example all employees are expected to follow.

Typically, this management style is most effective in workplaces where quality is a priority. It's also successful in environments where teams are relatively new and can benefit from having a strong example to follow.

This type of manager can get their team to be extremely productive and highly motivated. However, it can also cause burnout for managers who struggle to know their own limits and can create problems throughout the team if expectations are set too high.

4.     Inspirational management style

The inspirational manager uses a style of management that focuses on charismatic leadership and securing engagement from every member of the team. These managers are the consummate “company men” (or women) who are focused on driving value throughout their area of influence in order to secure the company's goals.

These leaders are also extremely personable and skilled in building rapport with their subordinates. An inspirational manager always seems to be able to convince their team to drive themselves to greater levels of excellence.

If you're an inspirational manager, it's because you have a visionary approach to leading your team and pursuing the company's goals. You also have a knack for empowering your team members' creativity, sparking innovation, and using a forward-thinking approach to get things done. You are a motivator, a skilled communicator, and an expert in facilitating brainstorming and conflict resolution.

Check out our article ontype: entry-hyperlink id: 2k4U2KirzJDsdkXDfrPlIs to learn more about the qualities managers need to inspire and motivate their teams!

5.     Coaching management style

The coaching management style is typically used by managers whose primary emphasis is on employee development and empowerment. These managers spend much of their time supporting and challenging subordinates in ways that help them develop in every area of their career and life. Management coaches are never afraid to pick and choose from other management styles to achieve their ends.

A good coaching manager can be authoritarian when needed, delegate responsibilities, or focus on support and empowerment of the team, depending on what the situation requires. Like a coach in the sporting world, these managers are not afraid to go outside of their ordinary playbook if that's what's required to help their team members reach their developmental goals.

6.      Transactional management style

Transactional management is focused on getting results and is best used in environments populated with highly motivated team members. A transactional manager is skilled in establishing structure, goals, and processes and using reward systems to motivate employees to reach those expectations. 

It's a common style of management in many companies where workers are expected to meet certain sales expectations, but it can also be effective in other corporate environments when used properly.

To be an effective transactional manager, you need to understand the types of personalities you have on your team and the things that motivate them to exceed expectations. As a result, this type of management style is most effective when used by managers who are skilled at building some type of positive rapport with their teams.

7.     Transformational management style

Like inspirational managers,type: entry-hyperlink id: 0QKqZlJBYe2UiaQZLSB2Z tend to focus on motivating and inspiring their teams to reach higher levels of excellence. These managers are adept at creating environments where innovation and new ideas help to drive growth. 

Managers who employ this management style thrive in companies where change is the only constant. This management style is great in industries and companies that are always adapting to new technologies and evolving consumer needs. Their ability to challenge their team members can spark creativity and help those companies maintain a competitive edge. However, this style of management can only be successful with team members who share that enthusiasm for change.

8.     Laissez-faire management style

The laissez-faire option differs from most other styles of management due to its hands-off way of organizing a team and its activities. Managers who employ this style prefer to allow their employees to make many or most of the decisions that directly impact their daily responsibilities. 

It’s common for laissez-faire managers to focus their sights on their own management tasks while trusting their teams to do their jobs effectively. These types of managers can be effective in highly creative environments as well as higher-level office settings. 

The laissez-faire management style can also be a useful approach when used for short-term projects that require teams to focus on an innovative mindset. In most business settings, however, the laissez-faire management style can be a recipe for disaster.

9.     Bureaucratic management style

The bureaucratic management style takes a different approach in method and focus. These managers focus on strict adherence to well-defined procedures and written policies. Managers who use this style focus on enforcing one set of standards and expectations for everyone on the team without regard to personalities or individual needs.

This style of management is seen in many of the biggest companies, government agencies, and other organizations that require consistent, policy-based decision-making. Bureaucratic management can be useful for minimizing bias, creating a streamlined process for communication, and keeping large groups of employees focused on a common mission.

10.     Situational management style

The situational management style can offer the most flexibility for great managers. Situational managers don’t restrict themselves to a single management style. Instead, they employ different aspects of any of these different management styles, adapting their approach to fit any given situation. 

These types of managers are adept at knowing which management approaches can help them achieve their immediate business needs. Situational managers can be valuable assets for companies that need that flexible approach to team management. 

Their adaptability can help companies effectively respond to a wide array of challenges. However, this management style can be a drawback to a company’s ability to create consistent standards and practices.

Tips for conveying management style in your resume

If you are struggling to determine your management style or are not quite sure how to include that information in your resume in a compelling way, these tips may help to set you on the right path.

How to identify your management style 

If you're like many managers, you may read those examples of different management styles and notice that your own style seems to be a combination of two or more approaches. That's perfectly normal! Good managers are capable of shifting between styles as needed, adopting the methods and ideas that work for them and discarding the ones that don't.

Your personality

One way to determine your management style is to think about your personality. Which traits do you employ when managing people? Are you someone who likes to dictate outcomes, or do you prefer a more collaborative approach? Write down a list of your preferences and what works best for you. Then, compare that list to the examples we cited above.

Decision-making preferences

You can also consider how you prefer to reach decisions and which questions you might ask yourself when a decision needs to be made quickly. If you're focused primarily on making a quick decision, chances are you tend to be more top-down in your management style. If you find yourself wondering how the decision will impact your team, you may be more democratic.

Company/team needs

It’s also important to make sure you pick a style that aligns with the company’s needs and the employees you’ll be managing. Whenever possible, try to adapt your management style to fit your team’s personalities and work style. That can help minimize any potential friction.

How to include management style on your resume

When adding your management style to your resume, focus on three maintype: entry-hyperlink id: 2dQI4LfjSihxJhc4tealVC: 

1. Your resume summary

In yourtype: entry-hyperlink id: 3ZmSJ4LWBRWEcPwANBqYov, include a sentence or two that emphasizes your management style by using powerful keywords that create a compelling narrative about you. For example, 

“Experienced manager committed to creating collaborative work environments for team members, encouraging greater engagement to drive innovation and improve productivity and end results.”

2. Your work experience section

When adding achievements to your work experience section, be sure to focus ontype: entry-hyperlink id: 7uvySAFKCvbyrFQsmgMKR1 with measurable results. This is the most effective way to ensure your reader can easily imagine the type of value you could add to their organization. For example:

“Created and implemented a reward system for ABC Inc's sales team that motivated our team members to increase sales by 33% in a one-month period, with a sustained increase in sales success in the three months after the campaign's end.” 

Select a few of your greatest accomplishments and include them in your resume. Don't be afraid to brag about your important achievements. Companies that are looking for managers are not interested in wallflowers. Instead, they want confident, capable candidates who know their own value and worth.

3. Your skills section

In your skills section, be sure to highlighttype: entry-hyperlink id: 5M5b5q8H89xWpCF3JHMXAr that you use as part of your management style. These should include both hard and soft skills that enable you to successfully lead your team. Examples include things like team building, conflict resolution, creative thinking, problem-solving, delegation, brainstorming, collaboration, and many others.

Different management styles impact your job search

If you’re a job seeker looking for your next managerial role, it's vital to understand the many different management styles and recognize which one has helped you achieve management success. By gaining the insight needed to identify your unique style and learning how to successfully convey that information in your resume, you can help prospective employers see the type of value you can offer to their organization.

Want to make sure your resume does the best possible job highlighting your management style? Get the peace of mind you need by obtaining your free resume review from our team of resume experts today!

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