Transformational Leadership Style – Is It Effective?

The Transformational Leadership Style Is Crucial

The transformational leadership style is highly effective at changing a culture and motivating others to strive for the goal at hand.  Transformational Leaders have the ability to inspire, motivate, and lead on behalf of others.  Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr are two examples of transformational leaders.  They essentially shifted an entire culture through using the transformational leadership style to effectively transform and motivate change throughout the world.  According to Bernard Bass and Bruce Avolio, A leader who encapsulates the transformational leadership style can be characterized  as follows:

Idealized Influence– Transformational Leaders gain respect and trust from their followers by putting the followers needs first. By employing a transformational leadership style, the leader puts their own needs behind the needs of others.  This is indeed a hard change of pace for some leaders and it does take a specific leader to do this.  The transformational leadership style focuses on creating the greater good for others so that they in turn can succeed.

Inspirational Motivation– They motivate others by providing rich meaning and a challenge for the cause or task.  They build enthusiasm and optimistic views for their followers. This is what fuels the change.  The transformational leadership style gets to the hearts of those who are following which creates an emotional buy in to work and act to overcome a challenge or specific cause.  Injustice is one aspect where leaders who use the transformational leadership style can rapidly grow a movement of followers to work and advocate to the people who need help.

When Using The Transformational Leadership Style, A Leader Can Become Fatigued Quickly Due To The Needs For Change

Intellectual Stimulation– They challenge their followers to seek new approaches to old problems, stimulate innovation and creativity, and actively look for solutions instead of criticize their followers. You know a leader who uses the transformational leadership style when you see them in action.  They always seek new ways to improve and never get caught up in complacency.  These same leaders actually carve time out for innovation and creativity during the normal work day.

Individual Consideration– Transformational Leaders act as mentors and coaches to develop others.  They allow an atmosphere for opportunities and growth. Leaders who always seek to grow and develop others are acting as they should.  They are putting the needs of others above their own and do not hold their people down to move on and grow in either the professional or personal atmosphere.  Not every leader or manager is capable of using the transformational leadership style.  So when you find one, learn, listen, and seek for guidance as much as possible.

I am a huge basketball fan and the I still go back and watch how Coach K used the transformational leadership style to completely restructure the USA Men’s basketball team. Prior to his involvement, the players played for themselves and were allowed to due to their status. Coach K and others transformed the entire culture and structure to ensure that any player would have to make the team based on try outs and would be playing for the USA, not themselves. The end result, they won the gold medal.

The Transformational Leadership Style Should Be Adopted By Anyone Who Leads Others

There is a lot of selfish people today who lead others and do not focus on developing them.  If we are truly honest with ourselves, no matter what position you hold professionally, what personal life you have, it will ultimately end.  I am not trying to be a downer here, just simply stating that if you are in position to put others above yourself, develop people to reach their full potential, and possibly create a sweeping change that enriches lives why not do it? Your legacy will either vanish when you pass on, or have a lasting impact far after you are gone.  Think about MLK and Lincoln who I brought up at the beginning.  I am not saying that we all must reach this level, but we can do our part to use the transformational leadership style actively and intently.   If a  leader ever needed a go to style it would be the transformational leadership style.