It might sound like a cliché, but all leaders really are different! Different people will manage their team and tasks in different ways, and even change their style of leadership according to the team or task being addressed. In your first experience in the workplace, it can be daunting to know how to behave with your supervisor, just as it can be sometimes daunting for your supervisor to lead you on your internship experience – they want you to have a good experience and to do your best, but they may not know which leadership style is best for you straight away.

We have for you below some different styles of leadership that you will probably come across during your internship and throughout your career, as well as some tips for how to work with a leader using that style.

Democratic Leaders

Democratic leaders involve their team in the decision making processes. This leadership style is a very open and collegial style of running a team, and ideas move freely amongst the group and are discussed openly. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be "What do you think about this?"

For interns working with this kind of leader, you can freely share your ideas and are expected to contribute to your team. Try to be proactive and creative, and you will be noticed!

Bureaucratic Leaders

Bureaucratic leaders are generally procedure-focused and usually distance themselves from their employees. These leaders ensure that all the steps have been followed prior to sending it to the next level of authority. This kind of leadership prevents conflict of ideas among leaders and their team.

For interns, you just need to listen to your supervisor’s instructions and follow what your supervisor asks you to do. If you have any new ideas, bring them up with your supervisor privately as they will appreciate it more than group discussion.

Laissez-Faire Leaders

Laissez-faire is a French phrase meaning “leave it be.” In this leadership style, the leader leaves the team to work on their own. Under this lack of supervision, creativity and innovative thinking will be enhanced. This is more suitable for interns who have some experience and can work on honing their skills through the internship tasks.

For interns who lack of experience but are exposed to this leadership style, it is better to structure yourself by reporting your progress regularly to your supervisor in case of any mistakes or misunderstandings.

Charismatic Leaders

Charismatic leaders inspire their employees, establish a vision and communicate it with passion and enthusiasm. A charismatic leader gathers followers through personality and charm, rather than any form of external power or authority. They listen to the things you say, but remember, they also see the things you do.

For interns, working with this kind of leader can be inspiring but you can also feel inspired to take on a lot of tasks. Make sure you are aware of your workload and do not take on too much. You will learn a lot about time management with this kind of leader!

Remember, you will come across each of these styles of leadership throughout your career, and a good leader will use all of these styles depending on the task at hand. If you feel like you are not adapted to the style of leadership your supervisor is using, you should write down your expectations and discuss it with your IPS to ensure they are reasonable, and then you can discuss it with your host supervisor.