Elements of Transformational Leadership

Competition in the business world is real and is quite dynamic.  There is this thriving hunger for excellence in efficiency, effectivity, and productivity everywhere.

Knowing the elements of Transformational Leadership is a must! Businesses constantly need to assess systems, protocols, and mandate to align it with the company’s vision or ideals.  This is where transformational leadership comes in.  Now, what exactly is transformational leadership?  Transformational leadership is a type of leadership where a leader works with groups and teams who come together and collaborate to find opportunities, and identify the path for change, diversity, and innovation for improvement.  Not all leaders can take on this role or type of leadership but all leaders can participate in the programs and campaigns initiated by a transformational leader for the benefit of the company.

Transformational leadership is to take what is working and transform it into something even better. It has been observed that transformational leadership brings about impressive results.  It inspires employees.  It is important to note that transformational leadership is not to pinpoint any flaws or errors in a company. Transformational leadership brings about ideas and suggestions from employees and comes up with a different approach, a different route, a different plan to meet and exceed expectations.  Employees are encouraged and motivated to think outside the box, to perform better, produce better and serve better.  Transformational leadership is not a one-stop-shop.  It is composed of several important elements of Transformational Leadership in order for the change to be effective for the employees and the company.

1.  Strengthen Rapport and Relationship with the Employees

The leader in transformational leadership seeks to establish rapport and foster a strong working relationship with the employees.  The leader seeks to understand the employees’ needs and concerns.  Listening and understanding the employees’ results in realizing conditions how employees can focus and work better for the achievement of the goals of the company.  This includes getting the employees to undertake accountability to cooperate and collaborate, and hence, produce better results.  Championing the wins of each employee, team or department is necessary – it gives the notion of support and appreciation from the company.

2.  Inspire

Leaders are followed, not just on a whim, but because of an authentic reason, a cause, or a purpose.  In a company, transformational leadership banks on this to inspire employees.  The inspiration brought by the leader/s is the driving force of the company to achieve the change that needs to happen.  This inspiration gives the employees the will and the desire to strive to exceed expectations.  It brings out the best in the employees not just as individuals but also in being members of a team.  It is the spark that starts the fire in the actions that need to be done to succeed.  It links the employees to the company’s vision. 

3.  Adaptability

One of the elements of Transformational leadership may be initiated by the leader but the execution lies with the teams, groups or department of the company.  Transformational leadership brings out the adaptability not just from the leader/s but also from the employees of the company.  The leader rallies for a change bringing together teams or groups who come together and analyze data on the company’s systems, protocols, and mandates.  Basing it from the data gathered, the teams or groups come up with action plans on how to not just meet but exceed expectations when it comes to performance, productivity and relationships.  Again, the leader initiates the change, mobilizes the teams, groups or departments in understanding the cause for the change and the steps on how to achieve the desired results.  Pilot employees or teams are given timelines by which data is closely observed and once the desired results are achieved, then the plan gets rolled out to the other employees. 

4.  Role Model

“Practice what you preach,” is a line often heard or read when it comes to bringing about change by good example. Transformational leadership is a type of leadership that encourages leaders to take the lead by being the first to make change.  This strengthens the driving factor with the change that is about to happen.  It gives the employees a tangible guide, an idol, a role model in carrying out the task/s.  It is important for the employees, and the company, when a leader understands and knows the change that they are about to go through, and that they have his/her support through the process, whatever the outcome.

Transformational leadership brings the leader and the employees closer.  They share the same goals and go through the same route in achieving those goals.  Together, the leader and the employees work as one.  In has been said that there is strength in numbers.  And the success is sweeter when a company’s leader and employees worked together in achieving it.  A company needs to be moving toward change with a strong force – leader and employees.  Transformational leadership shields the companies from making wrong turns in today’s dynamic business world.

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