Why Transformational Leadership Is Important
In 1978, James MacGregor Burns defined the concept of a "transformational leader." His work has been continued and expanded upon by other researchers, including industrial psychologist Dr. Bernard Bass. A transformational leader exhibits certain traits and behaviors to inspire and motivate a team or organization to rally around a common vision or goal. These behaviors and traits include charisma, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation and individual consideration for each team or group member. For many reasons, transformational leadership is an important factor at both the micro, or individual level, and macro, or organizational, societal level.
Individual Growth and Development
-
Transformational leadership impacts individuals' self-growth. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs places self-actualization at the top of the needs pyramid and defines it as a person's full realization of his potential. Transformational leadership helps transform members of a group into individuals who transcend beyond self-actualization and their own self-interests for the sake of the group or organization. Along with this includes individual moral development. Transformational leaders commit themselves to selfless ideals and align their personal principles and values with that of the organization, group or even society. The leader nurtures his followers' moral development to internalize these same values and principles.
Increases Performance
-
Transformational leadership develops followers who can perform beyond their own and others' expectations. Researchers who study and organizations that utilize transformational leaders frequently confirm this outcome. A 2002 article by Taly Dvir and others published in the "Academy of Management Journal" examined the effects of platoon leaders, in a military basic training setting, exhibiting transformational leadership on cadets' performance. The researchers found that the experimental cadets -- those under the leadership of the transformational platoon leaders -- outperformed control cadets in every area, including weapons testing and obstacle courses.
Organizational Development and Change
-
The impact of transformational leadership reaches every level of an organization. At the team level, you can find members that care, stimulate, inspire and motivate each other. Bass and colleagues, in their 1978 paper in "Group and Organization Studies," termed the effect that transformational leadership has throughout an organization as the "falling dominoes effect." Upper-level transformational leaders set an organization's direction and vision, influencing how lower levels of an organization operate. Transformational leadership can also help a company meet new challenges, such as during a company's reorganization, strategic redirection or downsizing.
Wide Application
-
Transformational leadership can be applied to a variety of settings. According to Bass in his 1999 article published in the "European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology," transformational leadership is more effective than transactional leadership. For instance, it can effectively be applied to militaristic, industrial, hospital and educational settings. It's also applied frequently to businesses. Transformational leadership can improve the capability of a sales force, help a company reshape its image in the marketplace and create a positive environment for employees.
References
- "An Investigation Into the Antecedent Experiences of Transformational Leaders"; William Schell et al.; 2008
- "Improving Organizational Effectiveness Through Transformational Leadership"; Bernard M. Bass and Bruce J. Avolio; 1994
- "European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology"; Two Decades of Research and Development in Transformational Leadership; Bernard M. Bass; 1999
Resources
Writer Bio
Matthew Schieltz has been a freelance web writer since August 2006, and has experience writing a variety of informational articles, how-to guides, website and e-book content for organizations such as Demand Studios. Schieltz holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He plans to pursue graduate school in clinical psychology.