Contents
What’s it: Transformational leadership is a leadership style by building a shared vision to inspire followers and meet the challenges it sets. Leaders cultivate loyalty and confidence among followers. They motivate subordinates to do better.
The leader also recognizes the individual contributions of team members. They encourage the free exchange of ideas, share credit for achievements, and take responsibility for failures.
Characteristics of transformational leadership
Several characteristics of transformational leaders distinguish them from other leadership styles. A transformational leader is someone who:
- Encourage motivation and positive development of followers
- Fostering an ethical work environment with clear priorities, values, and standards.
- Exemplify moral standards in organizations and encourage others to do the same
- Build a company culture of working for the common good instead of being selfish
- Emphasizes authenticity, cooperation, and open communication
- Provide training and guidance to subordinates
- Allow members to make decisions and take responsibility
Why transformational leadership matters
Transformational leaders bring positive expectations to followers. They empower their subordinates to do their best. Four aspects make transformational leadership even more critical in an organization.
- Being an ideal role model
- Inspire and motivate
- Pay attention to subordinates
- Intellectual stimulation
Being an ideal role model
Leaders become the ideal role model for followers. They show strong leadership qualities, both intellectually and emotionally. Followers see leaders as models to emulate and place high trust in them.
Leaders are fully responsible. They make personal sacrifices, show determination in the face of challenges, and are not satisfied with small, short-term successes.
Motivating and inspiring
Transformational leaders inspire and motivate followers. They develop a shared vision and use it to empower their subordinates. They show how to get there and what to do. Also, they encourage their subordinates to develop by providing suggestions or solutions.
A transformational leader manages to inspire followers easily and with clarity. They convince followers with easy-to-understand and straightforward words.
Long story short, a shared vision surrounds motivation and inspiration. Leaders create such optimism and clarity among followers that they are willing to make sacrifices to make it happen.
Pay attention to followers.
Transformational leaders show genuine concern for followers’ needs and feelings. They help subordinates self-actualize. Such attention fosters a high level of trust in the organization.
When subordinates experience difficulties, the leader provides solutions. They also direct followers to take training or educational programs to improve quality.
Also, the leader respects and appreciates the contributions of each member.
Intellectual stimulation
Leaders challenge followers to be innovative and creative. They encourage staff to challenge the status quo. They encourage the free exchange of ideas and opinions.
A common misconception is that transformational leaders are lenient. In fact, they continuously challenge followers for higher levels of performance.
What to read next
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- Charismatic Leadership: Meaning, Examples, Characteristics, Pros, Cons
- Democratic Leadership: Meaning, Characteristics, Pros, Cons
- Ethical Leadership: Its Importance and Principles
- Informal Leader: Their Importance, How To Be
- Laissez-Faire Leadership: Characteristics, Pros, Cons
- Leadership Style: What Is It? What are the types?
- Leadership: Meaning, Characteristics and Types of Leadership Style
- Paternalistic Leadership: Characteristics, Pros, Cons
- Servant Leadership: Meaning, Characteristics
- Situational Leadership: How It Works, Types, Pros, Cons
- Strategic Leaders: Meaning, Importance, Characteristics
- Transactional Leadership: Meaning, Examples, Characteristics, Pros, Cons
- Transformational Leadership: Characteristics, Why They Matter
