The purpose of this final paper is to systematize the most common leadership models, and to interpret their role in creating or maintaining business success.The paper pays special attention to examining the roles of contemporary leadership theories. In the empirical part of the paper, in order to examine the application of modern approaches to leadership in Croatian management practice, the so-called multifactor management questionnaire – MLQ. The research was proven on a sample of 30 managers in different business systems in Slavonski Brod. The survey questionnaire was proven on the basis of 28 questions within 15 days , from July 15 to July 30, 2020. The survey questionnaire was forwarded to the respondents by e-mail and the feedback was 100%. The data collected by the survey provide data on respondents: age, gender, level of education, level of functions in the organization, years of service, business performance of organizations in which they are employed and the degree of employee satisfaction in the organization, according to respondents. Analysis of collected data based on elementary descriptive statistics. The results of the survey show that 66.7% of male respondents, 43.3% of respondents aged 41 to 50 years, 50% of respondents completed: University graduate studies; specialist graduate professional studies; postgraduate specialist study, the most common total length of service of managers is from 16 to 18 years, and 46.7% of managers have the function of middle management. The results of the research show that according to the questionnaire, the most common model of leadership is transformational, followed by transactional and the least used Laissez-fair model.