Transformational Leadership: Listening to the Emerging Potential
Introduction
For youth, walking down the halls of a high school can be a terrifying experience. Living in an environment that fails to provide a sense of belonging, allow for individual growth, and cultivate a sense of purpose has become toxic to growth as well as productivity (Brendtro, Du Toit, 2005). In businesses, school, and our cultural construct we see a transactional approach based in coercion. Punishing those who fall out of line, and rewarding those who perform exactly how the leader wants them to (Wren, 1995). Researchers agree that the best way to cultivate a strong follower-ship is through the human approach adopted by transformational leaders (Nahavandi, 2015).
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Transformational leaders use three factors, charisma and inspiration, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration, to achieve goals and enact change. (Nahavandi, 2015). By analyzing leaders abilities to restore respect, find meaningful engagement, and discover the power of presence we will uncover the trends in transformational leadership that are allowing for large-scale change and cultural shifts.
Individual Consideration: Restoring the Bonds of Respect
Personal relationships are the foundation to a transformational leaders success. To punish is to cause pain (Brendtro, Du Toit, 2005); reward and punishment systems are causing pain to followers. Transformation leaders believe that in order to build meaningful relationships they must consider the individual, hearing the one of a kind story in each followers life (Dunkl, Jimenez, Zizek, Milfelner, Kallus, 2015). Many work environments are not conducive to this style of leadership; achievement and outcomes are valued above emotional stability. However, a psychologically healthy organization, where the leader takes a holistic approach to relationships, shows a significant decrease in stress and an increase in confidence (Dunkl, Jimenez, Zizek, Milfelner, Kallus, 2015). When leaders care about every aspect of their followers life, the follower shows gratitude by: showing up to work confidently, being motivated to exceed
The leader demonstrates to the followers loyalty, trust, respect and admiration, with these the qualities of the transformational leader, they tend to work harder than originally expected that tends to have a link between effort and reward. These outcomes occur because the transformational leader offers followers something more than just working for self-gain; they provide followers with an inspiring mission and vision and gives them an identity. They believe in the organizational culture they find and specific methods of performing tasks. Transactional leaders are effective in getting specific tasks completed by managing each portion individually. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, transactional leaders focus on the lower levels of the hierarchy that is the very basic levels of need satisfaction. One way that transactional leadership focuses on lower level needs is by stressing specific task performance (Hargis et al, 2001). They are more concerned with processes rather than revolutionary ideas hence under their leadership change is least expected. Unlike them, transformational leaders end up changing existing organizational cultures by implementing new ideas.
Those that follow a transformational leadership framework believe that leaders possess many of the aforementioned qualities, but the focus is on one’s ability to inspire and empower others (Ross, Fitzpatrick, Click, Krouse, & Clavelle, 2014). These leaders literally ‘transform’ their followers by inspiring enthusiasm and performance towards a
Leaders are aiming to control and surveillance employees through sensible and thrifty intention (Bass, 1985). It simply requires an agreement between leaders and followers toward organization goal (Burns, 1978). In transformation leadership, leaders focus on changing followers’ moral sensibilities and potentially increasing their motivation beyond self-interest (Kezar & Eckel, 2008, p. 381). It needs more associated with outcome criteria than transactional leadership (Rowold & Rohmann, 2009, p. 42). Transformation leadership helps to build positive relationship among staff and raising their morale. In contrast, transactional leadership helps to build the fundamental structure of the organisation (Kezar & Eckel, 2008, p. 383).
Becoming a transformational leader can occur either because the leader has a model or mentor that is a transformational leader, because he/she is a born transformational leader, or through reflection. Senge (1990) wrote that “Learning through reflection is about finding the creative tension...between an understanding of current reality and a vision of desirable practice” (as cited in Johns, 2004, p. 24). In addition, Schuster (1994) noted that one who desires to become a transformational leader can cultivate certain qualities that are characteristic of such a leader: a stimulating vision for the organization, honesty, empathy, authenticity, the ability to defer self-interest to ensure that others are recognized, a holistic concern for the organization, the ability to share power with others, and the ability to develop others (as cited in Johns, 2004, p. 25). The transformational leader is also an effective communicator who persists during hard times and still has the courage to continue to move ahead even when fatigued and encountering difficulties (Schuster, 1994, as cited in Johns, 2004, p. 25).
Northouse stated that this edition of his book was written with an objective to bridge the gap between simplistic approaches to leadership to more abstract approaches. Chapter 9 of this book is entitled Transformational Leadership. It defines this model as the process whereby a person engages with others and creates a connection that raises the level of motivation and morality in both the leader and the follower. Hidden away in Chapter 14, Leadership Ethics, we find servant leadership. These models emphasize that leaders be more attentive to the concerns of their followers and empathize with them. In addition, they should take care of them. In addition, they should take care of them and nurture them.
There are many models of leadership that exist across a range of fields (e.g. social work, education, psychology, business, etc.). The ability to transform an organization successfully requires a different set of attitudes and skills. Transformational leadership is an approach where a leader utilizes inspiration, charisma, individualized attention, and intellectual stimulation with their employees (Iachini, Cross, & Freedman, 2015, p. 651). Transformational leadership helps to clarify organizational vision, inspires employees to attain objectives, empowers employees, encourages employees to take risks, and advocates the seeking of alternative solutions to challenges in the workplace (Transformational Leadership, 2015). It allows the leader to engage and motivate each follower identify with the organization’s values and goals.
What distinguishes a transformational leader is the combination of head and heart, and the ability to understand and apply values effectively to connect with and influence the teachers and staff. Transformational leadership results in wide-ranging changes wherever it is introduced and is effective in solving problems in the school environment. The belief, commitment and the passion to ensure that Hawaii students experience the highest quality education and they soar above the rest when competing in the global economy, are what motivates me to serve as a transformational school
Transformational leadership theory applies four factors for leaders to influence employees to perform beyond their abilities. These factors describes leaders that promote leadership through idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration (Shresh & Rajini 2013).Transformational leaders are deem as the most effective leadership style because of their character strengths as a excellent role model who leads by example and manage people based on their strengths and weaknesses to optimizes the organization performance (Shresh, & Rajini, 2013). Transformational leaders are known to reward, encourage and mentor people based on performance through inspiration, creativity, and innovation to solve problems to exceed expectation of the organization (Smith,
Transformational leadership, whilst being value-based and vision-driven, utilises a process of influence with intentions, in order to build school and community aptitude, in addition to staff morale (Leithwood, Harris and Hopkins, 2008). Transformational Leadership was initially presented by James Burns. He describes this style as being identified when “leaders and followers make each other advance to a higher level of mortality and motivation” (Burns, 1978). Morale and motivation are increased by leaders who successfully inspire the followers by means of positive motivation, role-modelling and engagement via effective communication. Seligman (2011) further supports the concept of success being led by positive motivation and positive emotional involvement. He extends his research on positive psychology, outlining how optimism, combined with transformational characteristics, enables people to grow, and subsequently enhances the process of change and transformation.
Transformational leaders express a clear vision, inspire others and work together with their team to identify common values and goals (Marquis and Huston 2009). They also recognise followers’ potential, assist them to develop their strengths and identify individual differences (Bass 2008).
Transformational leaders’ focus is on the relationship of the leader with subordinates through encouragement, understanding, enthusiasm, and spur, while considering the individual. The leader motivates, possesses
Transformational leadership theory creates a positive change in their followers. This type of leadership takes care of the organizational interests and acts in the welfares for overall group as a whole. With this type of leadership, the leader increases the motivation, self-esteem and performance with their team (Kovjanic et al., 2012). Transformational leadership theory exceeds transactional leadership and rather than explaining a set of particular behaviors; it charts a continuing process by which "leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation" (Antonakis & House, 2014). Transformational leadership theory is based on leadership with morals and significance, and a purpose that exceeds short-term objectives
This paper summarizes the article written by Cam Caldwell, Rolf D. Dixon, Larry A. Floyd, Joe Chaudoin, Johnathan Post, and Gaynor Cheokas regarding the need for a new type of leadership in today’s social work environment, defined as Transformative leadership. The article itself varies in the definition, however in a broad sense Transformative leadership is maintaining good moral standing and sound business ethics among employees and individuals inside and outside the workplace. However, in order to reach this theoretical level of business related moral and ethical leadership known as
Transformational leaders are all about making a change. These leaders are generally viewed as charismatic and inspirational. The characteristics associated with the charismatic factor of a transformational leader are dominance, influential, confidence in oneself, and moral values. Behaviors that stem from those characteristics are being a mentor, excellent communication, and a competent motivator. Combing the characteristics and behaviors behind a transformational leader will bring about employees who are trusting, involved, confident, and compliant (Northouse, 2012). Transformational leaders are best known for testing the abilities of the employees and challenging them to do better. Research has shown that followers of a
Leaders are aiming to control and surveillance employees through sensible and thrifty intention (Bass, 1985). It simply requires an agreement between leaders and followers toward organization goal (Burns, 1978). In transformation leadership, leaders focus on changing followers’ moral sensibilities and potentially increasing their motivation beyond self-interest (Kezar & Eckel, 2008, p. 381). It needs more associated with outcome criteria than transactional leadership (Rowold & Rohmann, 2009, p. 42). Transformational leadership helps to build positive relationship among staff and raising their morale. In contrast, transactional leadership helps to build the fundamental structure of the organisation (Kezar & Eckel, 2008, p. 383).