Transformational leadership creates a work environment built on mutual respect, trust, enthusiasm, integrity, dedication, and innovation.
Transformational leaders inspire their teams by living their ideals.
This guide will explore the benefits of transformational leadership, the qualities of transformational leaders with real-world examples, and how you can become a transformational leader yourself.
Transformational Leadership vs Transactional Leadership
Transactional leadership is based on a system of rewards and punishments. Employees who perform well are rewarded; if they do not, they are punished.
The motivation to succeed comes from external factors.
Transformational leadership, on the other hand, inspires employees to succeed because they aspire to have leadership qualities and be like their leader.
The motivation to succeed goes beyond simple acquisition and monetary gain.
An employee guided by a transformational leader is motivated to perform well because it’s the right thing to do.
Benefits of Transformational Leadership
- Attracts and Retains Talent: Transformational leadership attracts and retains the best talent. If a leader makes the job about something more profound than simply making money, that talent will stick around.
- Fosters Creativity and Innovation: This mindset fosters innovation and creativity in the leader, team, and the businesses they touch.
- Guided by Morals and Values: Transformational leadership is guided by integrity, ethics, and morals; these leaders prioritize “doing the right thing” above most other motivations.
Qualities of Transformational Leaders
- Empathetic: Transformational leaders lead with empathy. They understand what drives and inspires each team member.
- Authentic: Transformational leaders practice what they preach. They set an example for everyone around them to aspire to.
- Inspirational: Transformational leaders inspire those around them. They bring out the best in their team and motivate them to act on their ideas, dreams, and passions.
- Adaptable: Transformational leaders have a robust Adaptability Quotient (AQ), which is the ability to adapt to change.
Examples of Transformational Leaders
- Stacey Abrams: A politician who has founded multiple organizations, been a Georgia state representative, serial entrepreneur, nonprofit CEO, and a New York Times bestselling author.
- Tristan Walker: Founder of Bevel, a health and beauty company specializing in hair and skin care products for Black men. He also co-founded the nonprofit CODE2040, which pairs Black and Latinx engineering students with summer internships in Silicon Valley.
- Kimberly Bryant: An electrical engineer who founded Black Girls CODE in 2011, which teaches basic programming concepts to underrepresented Black girls in tech.
Becoming a Transformational Leader
- Strive to be the best version of yourself.
- Lead with a moral compass.
- Provide constructive feedback often and with consistency.
- Be open and honest with your team.
- Lead with empathy.
- Invest in continued learning for yourself and your team.
- Be a leader of innovation.
- Provide adaptability training.
Recommended Reading
- “Creativity, Inc.” by Ed Catmull
- “Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation” by Hill, Brandeau, Truelove & Lineback
- “Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change” by Stacey Abrams
- “No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention” by Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer
- “The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses” by Eric Ries
Transformational leadership is a powerful tool for inspiring and motivating teams.
By embodying the qualities of a transformational leader and implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you can create a positive and innovative work environment.
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.
