What is Transformational Leadership?
In the face of a global economic crisis, environmental vulnerability, and personal instability, we face a unique moment in human history, one that calls for profound and rapid change around the globe. Everyone is being challenged to find creative solutions to problems and inefficiencies. Transformational leadership is uniquely capable of bring out the best in people, the hidden strengths within organizations, and the opportunities hidden under the chaos.
Traditional Models of Business Leadership Are No Longer Sufficient
The traditional model of leadership in organizations has been transactional leadership, which seeks to achieve an outcome through an exchange of value (exchanging work for money, for example). This more common, current management paradigm—effective in some regards—is insufficient to respond to our current global state of distress.
Transformational leadership seeks to go further, satisfying deeper hungers and responding to higher missions and purposes within the individual—often changing the status quo in the process.
Transformational vs. Transactional Leadership
Transformational leadership differs from transactional leadership in distinct ways:
- Whereas transactional leaders accomplish a goal through an exchange of effort for value, transformational leaders seek in the process of accomplishing goals, to empower and develop the follower, the leader, and their organization such that they achieve extraordinary outcomes and higher levels of satisfaction and commitment.
- Each of these leaders participate in their own personal transformation involving a profound change in their values and beliefs.
- This personal transformation has a transformative effect on the perople around them and, ultimately, their world.
Four Characteristics of Transformational Leaders
In their book, Transformational Leadership (2006), Bernard M. Bass and Ronald E. Riggio propose that there are four characteristics of transformational leaders. They suggest that transformational leaders:
- Motivate and inspire those around them by providing meaning and challenge to their followers' work ... articulate a compelling vision of the future ...
- Stimulate their followers' efforts to be innovative and creative ...
- Pay special attention to each individual follower's needs for achievement and growth ... developed to successively higher levels of potential ...
- Serve as role models ... are admired, respected, and trusted ... emphasize the importance of having a collective sense of vision ... are willing to take risks ... are consistent ... can be counted on to do the right thing.
Transformational leadership is the new and evolving model of leadership. Transformational leaders have existed throughout history but only in the last century has their been an analysis to examine and distill the qualities that distinguish transformational leadership from other models.
The Wright Foundation is committed to developing and transmitting the principles of transformational leadership with a unique emphasis on personal transformation as the starting point for transforming our business, our communities, and our world.