How to Create a Customized Leadership Style

Leadership is not one-size-fits-all. Too often, new leaders try to mimic the style of a boss they admired or a figure they read about in a book. While modeling successful behaviors can be helpful, the most effective leaders eventually find a style that is uniquely their own. The ability to customize your leadership approach to fit your personality, strengths, and the needs of your team is what turns good managers into great leaders. 

So, how do you develop an authentic, flexible, and effective leadership style? Let’s explore some steps that can help you get there. 

  1. Start with Self-Awareness
    Every leadership journey begins with understanding yourself. What are your natural strengths? Where do you struggle? Tools like 360-degree feedback, personality assessments like DISC, or asking trusted colleagues can provide clarity. The more you know about your tendencies—whether you’re detail-oriented, relationship-driven, or highly strategic—the easier it is to shape a natural style.
  2. Learn from Others (But Don’t Copy)
    It’s natural to look at leaders you admire and think, “I want to lead like that.” Observing others is a great way to gather inspiration, but resist the urge to copy and paste someone else’s approach. Instead, ask yourself: what do I respect about their style, and how can I adapt that to my own personality? Maybe you admire one leader’s decisiveness and another’s listening ability. Borrow the pieces that resonate and build them into your own toolkit.
  3. Adapt to the Needs of Your Team
    Effective leadership isn’t just about you—it’s about how you connect with those you lead. A customized leadership style requires flexibility. For example, some teams may thrive under a collaborative approach, while others need more structure and direction. Pay attention to what your team responds to and adjust accordingly. Great leaders can adapt their style without compromising their authenticity.
  4. Experiment and Reflect
    Leadership is an ongoing process of trial and reflection. Try new approaches in low-risk situations, and take time to assess what worked and what didn’t. Did your team respond well when you gave them more autonomy? Did setting clearer expectations reduce stress? By experimenting and reflecting, you’ll refine your style over time.
  5. Commit to Growth
    Finally, leadership isn’t a destination—it’s a journey. Staying open to feedback, seeking out coaching, and joining leadership development programs can help you refine your style. As you grow, so will your ability to lead in a way that feels authentic to you and effective for your team.

Final Thoughts 

The best leaders don’t fit into a mold—they create their own. By building a leadership style customized to your strengths and your team’s needs, you’ll be better positioned to inspire, motivate, and achieve results. 

If you’re ready to take the next step in shaping your leadership style, I invite you to explore AMPLIFY, Yeo & Yeo HR’s leadership development program. It’s designed to help emerging and experienced leaders strengthen their skills, gain coaching support, and practice leadership in a collaborative environment.


Amplify

Learn more and register here

Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions provides guidance and support for leaders and teams at every level. Explore our services. 

The Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) goes into effect for small businesses with 10 or fewer employees on October 1, 2025. That means now is the time to prepare your policies, payroll systems, and employee communications.

Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. Take the first step today and give your business — and your employees — the confidence of being ESTA-ready.

Take the ESTA Readiness Assessment now

In the fast-paced environment of a growing startup, establishing a robust HR foundation isn’t just an administrative necessity—it’s a strategic asset. The Complete Guide to HR for Startup Companies is tailored to leaders who are not HR professionals but need to ensure their companies thrive through effective people management, culture building, and organizational planning. 

This eBook will walk you through the essential components of introducing HR functions into a startup context. You’ll learn how to:

  • Cultivate a thriving organizational culture: Integrate the company’s values into all aspects of the employee lifecycle.
  • Build out your organization structure: Create a structure that clarifies responsibilities, improves communication flows, and allows you to scale smoothly over time.
  • Create a competitive compensation and benefits strategy: Design a compensation philosophy that helps you attract, motivate, and retain top talent.
  • Develop a talent roadmap for growth: Build your hiring plan and align hiring to business milestones.
  • Master the art of talent acquisition: Optimize recruiting processes and build a magnetic recruiting engine.
  • Establish performance management processes: Align employee efforts with company goals.

Create a workplace where innovation thrives, employees are engaged, and your business goals are within reach. Download your free copy today.

Download Now

Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions, formerly Amy Cell Talent, celebrates 10 years of providing HR services to businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and startups across Michigan. After joining Yeo & Yeo in January 2025, the company continues to build on its strong foundation while expanding its reach and impact.

“Amy Cell and her team have spent the past decade building a strong, trusted HR advisory company and we are honored to have them as part of Yeo & Yeo,” said Yeo & Yeo’s President & CEO, Dave Youngstrom. “As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing their legacy of exceptional service and supporting even more businesses and organizations together.”

Amy Cell founded Amy Cell Talent in March 2015 to provide affordable and effective talent acquisition services. With her experience as Vice President of Talent Enhancement and Entrepreneurial Education at Ann Arbor SPARK and Senior Vice President of Talent Enhancement at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Cell saw an opportunity to help both jobseekers and employers. What started as a single engagement with an Ann Arbor entrepreneur seeking to hire a purchasing and operations professional quickly evolved into a growing business.

Mary Salley and Lori Emerson were the first to join the team in 2015. Their contributions helped shape the company into a trusted HR partner, and they remain integral team members today. In 2018, the company entered the municipal recruitment sector, successfully competing against established businesses and securing a City Manager search contract, which laid the foundation for a thriving municipal recruitment practice. Additionally, in 2019, the company expanded its services to provide comprehensive HR support, including strategic HR and fractional HR solutions. These offerings ensure organizations have a trusted, ongoing partner to navigate leadership transitions, workforce challenges, and their evolving HR needs.

Over the past decade, the company has steadily expanded, boasting a team of 24 professionals serving more than 90 clients annually. Amy Cell Talent, now Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions (YYHR), has been recognized as an Ann Arbor “Fast Track” award winner for the past three years and was named one of Michigan Small Business’s “50 Companies to Watch” in 2022. Today, Cell serves as the President of YYHR. Under her leadership, the team continues to uphold the same high standards of service on which the company was founded.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built,” said Cell. “Our journey has been fueled by an amazing team, outstanding clients, and a shared commitment to helping businesses and communities thrive.”

As Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions celebrates this milestone, the team looks forward to the next decade of growth, innovation, and service. For more information about Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions and its services, visit https://yeoandyeo.com/hr-advisory-solutions.