“Transformational leadership is defined as the process whereby a person engages with others and creates a connection that raises the level of motivation and morality in both the leader and the follower”. (Northouse,2016)
In the article, ‘Transformational leadership and performance across criteria and levels,’ some hypotheses are stated about the various implications of managers. According to Wang, Oh, Courtright and Colbert, these are as follows:
- Transformational leaders affect followers performance at the individual level: This is achieved by any of the four behaviors exhibited by a transformational leader. A leader can show the behavior of inspirational motivation by developing and articulating a shared vision and high expectations. This motivates the followers to do better. Another option is by practicing the behavior of idealized influence by serving as a role model by acting in ways that are consistent with the clear vision. Transformational leaders can also interculturally stimulate the followers or exhibit individualized consideration by attending to the needs of every follower.
- Transformational leaders motivate followers to perform beyond expectations: This is a fantastic implication if leaders. They push the followers to do better than what they think they are capable of by constant motivation and faith in them.
- Not only individual performance but transformation leaders enhance group/team performance as well: Leaders communicate the vision to the group and motivate team members to work collectively. They encourage team cohesion and motivation.
The word ethics has its roots in the Greek word ethos, which translates to “customs”, “conduct” or “character”. In regards to leadership, ethics is concerned with what leaders do and who leaders are (Northouse,2016,p.330).
Acc to Johnson (2015), ethical leadership enhances organizational trust levels, fostering the perception that the organization is competent, open, concerned for employees and reliable (Unit 7 notes). There are 5 principles of ethical leadership and they are enlisted below:
- Respecting others
- Serving others
- Justice
- Manifests honesty
- Builds Community
All five of them are like fingers of a hand, one can not be considered more important than other. All of these principles together make an ethical leader but if I had two picks any two out of these five, they will be respect and building community. Respecting others is very important and if you don’t respect others you cannot command respect for yourself either. As you sow, so you reap fits perfectly in this situation. As Beauchamp and Bowie (1988) pointed out, ” Persons must be treated as having their own autonomously established goals and must never be treated purely as a means to another’s personal goals” (Northouse,2016,p.342). Leaders who respect others also allow them to be themselves, with creative wats and desires. They approach other people with a sense of their unconditional worth and value individual differences (Northouse,2016,p.342). By respecting others a leader is also practicing justice. The second most important principle to me is Building communities. Ethical leadership demands attention to a civic virtue. This means leaders and followers need to attend to more than their own mutually determined goals. They need to attend to the community’s goals and purpose (Northouse,2016,p.347). Greenleaf (1970) argued that building community was a primary characteristic of servant leadership. All of our individual and group goals are bound up in the common good and public interest. We need to pay attention to how the changes proposed by a leader and followers will affect the larger organization, the community, and society. An ethical leader is concerned with the common good, in the broadest sense (Northouse,2016,p.347). This principle covers other principles as well as it is about serving others and manifesting honesty.
The ultimate goal of a servant/transformational/ethical leader is to serve and grow others.
References
Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
Wang, G., Oh, I.S., Courtright, S.H., & Colbert, A.E. (2011). Transformational leadership and performance across criteria and levels: A meta-analytical review of 25 years of research. Group & Organization Management, 36 (2), 223-270.
Hi Shaaz,
The example of five fingers of a hand is so appropriate and rightly fits with principles of ethical leadership. Because none of them can not be avoided while practicing leadership. It is so true that building a community is what a primary motive of servant leader but do you think that justice is more important than the rest because with fairness a leader is able to gain trust and respect too.
Thank you for your kind words. Like I said its all related, building community requires justice and trust and though justice and trust you build community.
I agreed with your statement regarding trying to pick 2 of the 5 principles of ethical leadership, ‘All five of them are like fingers of a hand, one can not be considered more important than other.’ It was difficult to choose. I like your argument for building community, being the responsibility of an ethical leader in the broadest sense, and tying it back to Greenleaf (1970).
Thank you for your words and support. I strongly believe that each and every principle is equally important and one leads to another, it is a full circle in a way.