Beyond the Label: How Leadership Style Impacts Mental Wellness at Work

May is Mental Wellness Month—a time to reflect on how our leadership shapes not only outcomes, but emotional wellbeing. Because here’s the truth: Success at the cost of psychological safety is a short-lived win.

In my recent blog on AI-Empowered Leadership, I shared how today’s leaders need more than technical savvy to thrive. We need self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to lead with both clarity and compassion.

This month, I want to build on that idea by looking at a dimension of leadership we often overlook: The mental wellness impact of our leadership styles.

I recently came across a visual outlining eight traditional leadership types—each paired with a well-known figure. It was fascinating to see the traits and strengths highlighted, but I couldn’t help asking deeper questions:

What kind of culture does each style actually create? And how does it feel to work under that kind of leadership day after day?

Because when we zoom out, leadership isn’t just about what we do—it’s about what we normalize.

Here's the image that inspired this post:

Here's how these styles might look under a mental wellness lens:

1. Autocratic Leader

Example: Steve Jobs
This style offers sharp vision and control. But when collaboration is dismissed, fear creeps in.
Mental Wellness Risk: RED
Watch for: Burnout, suppressed creativity, disengagement

2. Democratic Leader

Example: Satya Nadella
Grounded in inclusion and shared decision-making, this style nurtures psychological safety.
Mental Wellness Risk: GREEN
Watch for: Delays in action if clarity gives way to consensus fatigue

3. Transformational Leader

Example: Elon Musk
Inspires big thinking—but can glorify overwork and ignore human limits.
Mental Wellness Risk: RED
Watch for: “Always on” culture, passion-turned-pressure

4. Transactional Leader

Example: Bill Gates
Efficient and results-driven. But when relationships take a back seat, the human element can fade.
Mental Wellness Risk: YELLOW
Watch for: Narrow focus on output, undervalued motivation

5. Laissez-Faire Leader

Example: Mary Barra
Empowering for self-starters—but risky if structure or guidance is missing.
Mental Wellness Risk: YELLOW to RED
Watch for: Unclear roles, isolation, inconsistency

6. Servant Leader

Example: Susan Wojcicki
Leads with care, empathy, and service—building deep trust and loyalty.
Mental Wellness Risk: GREEN
Watch for: Overgiving, blurred boundaries for leaders

7. Charismatic Leader

Example: Oprah Winfrey
Connects through presence and story. When grounded, it's powerful. When unchecked, it can become ego-driven.
Mental Wellness Risk: GREEN to YELLOW
Watch for: Dependency on personality, lack of shared leadership

8. Situational Leader

Example: Jeff Bezos
Adapts to context with agility. Works well when paired with emotional intelligence.
Mental Wellness Risk: GREEN to YELLOW
Watch for: Team confusion if flexibility isn’t clearly communicated

Why This Matters Now

We’re leading through uncertainty, rapid innovation, and rising emotional strain. And in this environment, how we lead matters as much as what we achieve.

Leadership today isn’t just about driving outcomes. It’s about shaping environments where people feel seen, supported, and safe to grow. That’s not a soft skill—it’s a survival skill.

At Tech & Thrive, this is our North star: Building leadership that sustains—not drains—the people we serve and the person we are.

Because the culture you create is the legacy you leave. So ask yourself:

• Is your leadership energizing your team—or exhausting them?
• Are you thriving—or just holding it together?

I'd love to know what you think about this new categorization of leadership. Drop me a line and share your thoughts!

Denise Musselwhite is an unshakable optimist who believes in a future where leaders thrive authentically and courageously. She is dedicated to empowering diverse professionals to reclaim their power, harness their strengths, and break through the barriers—both systemic and self-imposed—that hold them back.

As a visionary executive coach, speaker, and strategist, Denise founded Tech & Thrive to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement, particularly for women and people of color in tech leadership. Her T.H.R.I.V.E. Operating System™ is more than a framework—it’s a movement designed to help leaders rise with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Denise’s mission is clear: to help high-achieving professionals show up fully as themselves, lead with purpose, and build careers and workplaces that honor their unique strengths, whether that’s through her leadership coaching or her partnerships with AIIR Consulting, Mission and Data, and Shore Coaching to deliver exceptional, data-informed leadership and team development rooted in authenticity. Because when we lead from a place of authenticity, we don’t just succeed—we thrive.