Hi Angela,
Some of the research on leadership styles may be useful here. Kurt Lewin provided the foundation for this work in the 1930s. Hersey & Blanchard's Situational Leadership Theory offers a matrix for matching a leadership style with what they term the "maturity level" of the person or group being led. There is some research that doesn't support their approach, but it still offers some perspective on how we lead as we interact in an dynamic environment. Another resource you may find useful is Daniel Goleman's Harvard Business Review article from March-April 2000 entitled, "Leadership that gets results."