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You don’t have to spend long in the working world to recognize there are multiple types of leaders. Every kind of leader motivates, challenges and develops employees in different ways. Their corresponding styles can all inspire different outcomes. In recent years, transformational leadership has risen to the surface. Organizations in all industries are seeing rapid change in today’s digital era. Transformational leaders know how to encourage, inspire and motivate employees to perform in ways that create meaningful change. The result is an engaged workforce that’s empowered to innovate and help shape an organization’s future success. Your curiosity may leave you wondering, “What is transformational leadership, exactly?” Join us as we help answer this question. While transformational leadership principles are well-suited for today’s fast-paced, diverse and highly technological workforce, the style is far from a new development. Presidential biographer and leadership expert James MacGregor Burns is credited with coining the concept in the 1970s. Organizational change and leadership development expert Kevin Ford builds off this model that Burns initially identified. According to Ford, there are three effective leadership styles:
As you gain a clearer understanding of transformational leadership, it’s helpful to walk through the various components that are inherent to this management style. But first, it’s worth evaluating the differences between transformational and transactional leadership.
Transformational leadership vs. transactional leadership Leaders, it’s important to note, aren’t confined to a single leadership style. In many cases, combining different approaches can enhance organizational outcomes. Transformational and transactional leadership are two styles that have been thoroughly researched, and a given leader may exhibit varying degrees of both styles. Transactional leadership is based on a
system of exchanges between the leader and each employee. Employees receive positive reinforcement for meeting specific goals. An effective transactional leader is adept at recognizing and rewarding accomplishments in a timely manner. Within this leadership style, team members are typically evaluated and given feedback based on predetermined performance criteria. Workers aren’t necessarily expected to think innovatively about the tasks at hand. Explore professional pathways that span industries from business to education and learn about degree options that fit your future. In contrast, transformational leaders inspire employees in ways that go beyond exchanges and rewards. This approach can increase a team’s intrinsic motivation by expressing the value and purpose behind the organization’s goals. A transformational leadership style inspires employees to strive beyond required expectations to work toward a shared vision, whereas transactional leadership focuses more on extrinsic motivation for the performance of specific job tasks. Learning to balance these styles can help leaders reach their full potential. 4 Components of transformational leadershipAs transformational leaders work with their employees to implement effective change, they rely on things like communication, charisma, adaptability and empathetic support. In practice, this leadership style comprises four primary elements:
5 Traits successful transformational leaders have in commonAs you consider the transformational leadership style, you may be wondering what it looks like in practice. Forbes senior contributor Blake Morgan outlines a number of habits common to effective transformational leaders. Here are five of the most essential traits: 1. Good transformational leaders practice self-awarenessTransformational leaders thrive on personal growth and know their strengths and weaknesses. They often take time to reflect and set daily or weekly goals. These leaders believe everyone, including themselves, should be continually learning and improving. 2. They remain open-mindedRemaining open to new ideas and fresh perspectives is an important aspect of transformational leadership. Rather than jumping to conclusions, these leaders regularly gather feedback and ideas from a range of sources before making strategic decisions. 3. The best transformational leaders are adaptable and innovativeGood transformational leaders understand changing business dynamics and are always finding innovative ways to stay ahead of the curve. They’re unafraid to alter traditional approaches that have worked in the past as they look toward the future. 4. Good transformational leaders are proactiveLeaders cannot simply sit around and wait for change to happen. Rather, they make proactive decisions and bold choices that can set the tone for others to follow. 5. They lead with humilityFinally, transformational leaders take little issue with admitting they don’t have all the answers. While they can remain confident in their goals and abilities, they’re also able to keep their egos in check and do what’s right for their team or organization. Make an impact as a transformational leaderNow that you know the foundations of transformational leadership, you can see how beneficial it can be. You can answer not only, “What is transformational leadership?” but also, “Why is it effective?” You may even be thinking about some actionable ways to put this style into practice. Perhaps it’s time to think about furthering your studies. A Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Organizational Leadership can help you become a visionary leader who knows how to transform diverse organizations through collaboration, strategic thinking and a profound commitment to lifelong learning. To discover more about the outcomes that could await, explore UMass Global’s Ed.D in Organizational Leadership program. Which of the following is the basis of transactional leadership?Transactional leadership theory is based on the idea that managers give employees something they want in exchange for getting something they want. It posits that workers are not self-motivated and require structure, instruction and monitoring in order to complete tasks correctly and on time. What is transactional leadership quizlet?what is transactional leadership? a leadership style in which the leader promotes compliance of his/her followers through both reward and punishment. What is the difference between transactional leadership and transformational leadership quizlet?Transactional leadership is primarily based on processes and control, and requires a strict management structure. Transformational leadership, on the other hand, focuses on inspiring others to follow, and it requires a high degree of coordination, communication, and cooperation. What is the most effective form of transactional leadership quizlet?management-by-exception (putting out fires and taking corrective action when problems occur) and contingent reward behavior (rewarding an employee for doing a good job) are two of the most effective transactional leader behaviors. |