Why You Need To Take A Second Look At Transformational Leadership Theory. Could Your Company be Even More Succesful With The Transformational Leadership Theory?
So what's all the fuss about you ask? Theorists have weighed in time and time again about the limits and benefits of this leadership style. For the most part the feedback is often positive. When we really break it down it's really interesting to see what kind of leadership style a particular leader chooses to adopt. For example Barack Obama might be considered a charismatic leader because he invokes change through inspiring and movingothers to make a difference. The same can be said of Gandhi. Somebody like Joseph Stalin and the way he reigned was very reminiscent of the Autocratic leadership style in the sense that he led with an iron fist. But what about the theory of transformational leadership? What kind of leader is attracted to that style and might you be attracted to it? Transformational leaders enjoy engaging others and implementing new ideas. They may adopt some of the characteristics from charismatic leaders in order to pull in supporters and gain the respect from others. But unlike the transactional leader (which is most common in the workplace)transformational leaders aim to improve the productivity of those around them while staying flexible and adapting to a changing environment. That's the key here folks, what's the point of being able to plant an assortment of flowers in the garden but then not be able to help them survive through a dry season. Bass and Burns are the two theorists who have written a lot about the theory of transformational leadership. They summarize that leaders who adopt this style should have: Vision- An important quality to possess since it allows the leader to have a clear picture of what the future looks likeand how they are going to lead their team there. People work best when they know where they're going. Who wants to be stumbling around aimlessly in the dark? Charisma- That innate ability to captivate and inspire audiences and motivate team members to success. Intellect- We can't forget this. These kind of leaders have to know how to make lemonade when given limes. Turning a problem into an opportunity and knowing how to think outside the box are great qualities for the transformational leader to have. Perhaps you too will be able to improve organizational effectiveness with transformational leadership theory.
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