Written by Cari Borden

Let’s clear something up.
Your leadership style is how you show up. Your leadership traits are who you are.
They’re not the same, and if you think they are, we need to talk.

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What’s the Difference?

• Leadership Style = Your approach
  Think: visionary, democratic, coaching, directive, servant.
  It’s how you behave in a leadership situation.
• Leadership Traits = Your character
  Think: integrity, empathy, resilience, accountability, decisiveness.
  It’s who you are when no one’s watching.

And no, one doesn’t make up for the other.

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Why You Need Both

A calm, collaborative style won’t save you if your traits scream indecision.
A bold, directive trait doesn’t justify steamrolling your team.
To lead effectively, you need to:

• Know your go-to style
• Understand your core traits
• Know when to adjust your style to fit the situation without betraying your traits

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Style Blind Spots: The Real Risk

Too often, leaders surround themselves with mini-mes. But real success?
That comes when you build a diverse team of styles and traits and then learn to pivot your style without losing your values.

• Coaching style with no resilience? You’ll burn out.
• Visionary style but no empathy? Good luck retaining your people.
• Servant style with poor boundaries? Hello, burnout and blurred roles.

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Your Job: Read the Room, Know Yourself

The best leaders can shift gears.
They don’t fake it.
They flex it.

Because true leadership isn’t about staying “on brand.”
It’s about staying effective.

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Let’s Wrap This Up

Want to lead smarter?
👉 Understand your natural style
👉 Own your traits
👉 Learn how to flex, not bend
👉 Build a team that challenges your blind spots, not mirrors your comfort zone

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CTA:
💡 Want help identifying your style vs. your traits? Check out my SMART Leadership Coaching or take the Leadership Quadrant Assessment on LeadBoldly1.blog.
📩 Subscribe, share, and if you’re ready for real growth, let’s connect.