Blog VI: Transformational Leadership – The modern approach to Leadership in the 21st Century
Transformational leadership is an approach widely used and accepted by scholars and leaders alike in the 21st century. It’s an approach to leadership theory that focuses on leaders as individuals who lead through mentoring and empowering followers to make decisions and ultimately put the needs of their group over their own (Northouse, 2016, pp. 161-162). Transformational leaders recognize that followers who are empowered to make decisions grow as individuals and in doing so, benefit the group. Northouse (2016) identifies several ways transformational leaders transform their followers:
- Leaders use their charisma to act as positive role models to followers through their integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour.
- Leaders are able to motivate followers by selling the organization’s vision and spurring emotional investment to the group through symbolism, inspired action etc.
- Leaders intellectually stimulate their followers by challenging them to be creative in their approach, reflect on their beliefs, or evaluate the direction of the organization.
- Leaders also take the needs the needs of their followers into consideration such as providing challenges ,opportunities, or tasks to capable and willing followers while implementing more structure to those who need it.
Transformational leadership is often contrasted to a more traditional style of leadership known as transactional leadership which focus on providing faithful followers with material rewards while punishing those who don’t meet their set standard (Northouse, 2016, p. 162).
References
“Bikes for Fish”. (2015, December 31). Taking a Trip [Digital image]. Retrieved October 21, 2018, from https://bikesforfish.com/tag/transcendence/
Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice, Seventh Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 971452203409