A story is told about a young, newly appointed company manager who brokered a financial deal that looked good on paper, but ended up costing his employer $10 million.
Upon realizing the horror and irreversible repercussions of his mistake, he walked into his boss’s office the next morning jaded knowing his fate was sealed. To his boss he said:
“I understand if you fire me and, admitting my guilt, accept your decision”.
“To retire you?” — his boss asked.
“We have just spent 10 million on your training and are definitely not ready to throw away such valuable human resources. Go back to work!”
In an ever-evolving leadership landscape, one leadership approach shines as a beacon of effectiveness and impact: transformational leadership. A style of leadership with an extraordinary capacity to inspire, motivate, and elevate individuals and teams to reach greatness, or what at Rise School we like to say: “Become Your Next Best Self”.
In this article, we delve into what transformational leadership is at its core and explore the reasons why – just like the employer above who retained his staff on the backdrop of colossal failure – it is a potent force for leadership and workforce success.
The Essence of Transformational Leadership
At its core, transformational leadership is about igniting positive change, fostering growth, and inspiring innovation within an organization. It transcends conventional notions of authority and management by focusing on creating a shared vision, empowering team members, and nurturing their personal and professional development.
Here are some key identifiers:
Visionary Leadership
Transformational leaders are visionaries who paint a compelling picture of the future. They articulate a clear and inspiring vision that resonates with their team members, serving as a North star, that motivates individuals to align their efforts with the collective goal.
Rise School Founder Dr. Patricia Murugami’s podcast episode titled, “Break Through The Crisis Pt. 2: Be an Encourager,” emphasizes the importance of being an intentional encourager, a trait she highlights as vital in transformational leadership.
Inspirational Motivation
Are you able to inspire and motivate with passion and enthusiasm? Do you evoke a sense of purpose and commitment among your team members? Inspirational motivation goes beyond daily tasks and enables individuals to see the ‘bigger picture’ and understand how their contributions fit into the larger narrative. These leaders also excel at motivating innovation, fostering a culture of creativity and pushing the boundaries, as highlighted in the CIO article, “What is transformational leadership? A model for motivating innovation.”
Individualized Consideration
Moreover, transformational leaders recognize the unique strengths, aspirations, and needs of each team member. They tailor their leadership approach to provide individualized consideration, offering support and guidance that aligns with the individual’s goals and capabilities.
Dr. Patricia’s podcast underscores the importance of active listening to team members, constructive feedback, and creating opportunities for personal growth and open communication in this context. The latter being key to encouraging workers to voice their opinions especially during leader vs employee/ worker conflict scenarios.
L. David Marquet in his book Leadership is Language argues that “the reason workers hesitate to speak up lies in the language leaders use to communicate with them. This is usually outdated language (developed in the 1900s) that discourages workers from voicing their opinions”.
Intellectual Stimulation
Today to encourage innovation and continuous improvement, transformational leaders stimulate intellectual curiosity within their teams. Where before leaders prioritized maximized output from workers and maintained strict control over all workplace decisions and operations today, they promote open dialogue that challenges the status quo, and nurtures a culture of learning and experimentation.
Embrace Transformational Leadership In Q3 of 2023 And Beyond…
Overall, transformational leadership success looks like:
- Increased employee engagement and satisfaction
- Increased innovation and adaptability.
- Enhanced team performance, and
- Long-term organizational success
As you reflect on the above, it is evident that transformational leadership is a powerful catalyst for change and progress, while transformational leaders possess a unique ability to inspire, motivate, and encourage their teams to reach new heights.
The call to action is clear: to wholeheartedly embrace its principles and by doing so, embark on a journey primed to unlock untapped potential within your teams and organizations that results in a workforce that aspires towards a brighter and more prosperous future.
