Transformational Leadership

Knowledge Center

What is Transformational Leadership? Meaning.

Transformational Leadership is a style of leadership, related to Warren Bennis, that motivates through identification with the leader's vision: pulling rather than pushing others on.

According to Bennis (On Becoming a Leader), it is good to make a distinction between:

• Managers: Doing things right. Transactional Leadership. Administers, maintains, Focuses on system and controls and the sort term view, asks how and when, keeps an eye on the bottom line.

• Leaders: Doing the right things. Transformational Leadership. Innovates, develops, focuses on people, inspires, creates trust, asks what and why and has a long term view and an eye for the horizon.

Typical Transformational Leadership Behaviors: (B.M. Bass, 1993)

1. Idealized Influence (attributed and behavior). Refers to leaders who have high standards of moral and ethical conduct, who are held in high personal regard, and who engender loyalty from the follower.

2. Inspirational Motivation. Refers to leaders with a strong vision for the future - based on values and ideals. Leader behaviors falling into this dimension include stimulating enthusiasm, building confidence, and inspiring followers using symbolic actions and persuasive language. Idealized influence and inspirational motivation are highly correlated and are sometimes combined to form a measure of charisma.

3. Intellectual Stimulation. Refers to leaders who challenge organizational norms, encourage divergent thinking, and push followers to develop innovative strategies.

4. Individual Consideration. Refers to leader behaviors aimed at recognizing the unique growth and developmental needs of followers as well as coaching followers and consulting with them.

Forum New Topic Forum about Transformational Leadership. Cultivating Transformational Leaders We are constantly talking about the need for leaders as well as for "Leadership" responsibility for influencing a positi (...) 5   5 comments Transformational Projects Hi can somebody can help me and talk about transformational projects, for example involving change of the corporate purp (...) 5   🔥 NEW Typical Transactional Leadership Behaviors I need an explanation of typical transactional leadership. In particular: - What are typical behaviors / characteri (...) 4   Transformational Leadership and WYSIWYG The above is a very good description/definition by Warren Bennis. Check out Three laws of performance (Steve Zaffro (...) 3   1 comments Transformational Leadership in Complex Environments I need your views on how to develop transformational leadership in a government sector, where there are messy, complex, (...) 2   3 comments Reflection in Transformational Leadership How can reflection serve as an important aspect for transformational leadership? (...) 2   1 comments Strategic Leadership and Strategic Change Hi. I am doing research about the relationship between strategic leadership (transformational / transactional / visionar (...) 1   4 comments Start a new forum topic about Transformational Leadership Share your opinion, knowledge and experience or ask a question (sign up for free first)

Best Practices Sign up The top-rated topics about Transformational Leadership. Here you will find the most valuable ideas and practical suggestions. Transformational Leadership Definition I need a simple and concise definition for transformational leadership. Any suggestions? (...) 10   7 comments Transformational Leadership not Easy for Managers Traditionally managers have not oriented themselves into playing a leadership role. Their focus seems to be on the task (...) 7   3 comments

Expert Tips Sign up Advanced insights about Transformational Leadership. Here you will find professional advices by experts. How to Combine Transformational and Transactional Leadership? Leadership Development In the book "Transformational and Charismatic Leadership: The Road Ahead", attention is paid to Transformational versus (...)

Information Sources Sign up Various sources of information regarding Transformational Leadership. Here you will find powerpoints, videos, news, etc. to use in your own lectures and workshops. Your Organization Needs to Change its Strategy Implementation Method Strategy Execution, Strategic Change, Change Management, Strategy Implementation Dr. John Kotter explains most clearly how the rate of change of events, technology, globalization, products and markets (...) The Fatal Coaching Mistake by Managers Coaching, Mentoring, Management, Leadership Managers and executives often don't realize how much influence they have over their staff, by just being their superior (...) Strategic Leadership Leadership, Leadership Styles, Change Management, Strategy Execution, Culture Change In this micro-learing video Dr. David Dinwoodie answers questions on Strategic leadership: What is strategic leaders (...) 10 Leadership Theories in a Nutshell Leadership Theories Overview, Leadership Development, Management Development, Leadership Styles, Coaching, Mentoring This 5-minute video gives a brief overview of 10 theories of leadership, explaining their main differences: 1. The Grea (...)

Research Links Sign up Automatically jump to further useful sources regarding Transformational Leadership. News Videos Presentations Books More

Compare with: Emotional Intelligence  |  Covert Leadership  |  Leadership Continuum  |  Path-Goal Theory  |  Theory X Theory Y  |  Level 5 Leadership  |  Contingency Theory  |  Competing Values Framework  |  Expectancy Theory  |  Seven Surprises  |  Seven Habits  |  Results-Based Leadership  |  Situational Leadership  |  EPIC ADVISERS

Return to Management Hub: Change & Organization  |  Communication & Skills  |  Ethics & Responsibility  |  Leadership

More on Management  |  Return to Management Dictionary

This ends our Transformational Leadership summary and forum.