2.4 Comparison of the leadership styles of the FRLM
Transformational leadership is different from other types of leadership in that it is focused on emotions and values (Yukl, 1994). Burns, (1978) suggests that this style of leadership is a about close leader-follower relationship, based on high levels of morality and motivation. Transformational leaders motivate followers to better themselves and work for the benefit of the organisation. This promotes teamwork in the organisation (Bass, 1997). Transformational leaders are attentive to the interest of their followers and provide them with proper counselling when necessary (Bass, 1997). The leader is always seeking new ideas that move the organisation to achieve its vision. This inspires followers
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The transactional leader assigns goals and tasks for employees to complete. The chain of communication operates on a downward slope in the management chain. This style focuses more on management than leadership (Bass, 1985). The problem with transactional leadership is success is based on task accomplishment. In consequence, followers of transactional leader are less capable of designing innovative solutions and are less adequate to solve problems (Bass, 1985). Transactional leadership is a prescription for lower performance, and implementation of changes is difficult (Osborne and Gaebler, 1992). The leader engaged in only this type of approach will experience failure when he or she cannot deliver anticipated rewards such as promotion, pay increases, or other recognition that is meaningful to followers. Criticisms of the transactional leadership style relate to the limited motivation it has in creative followers (Rubin et al., 2005). Transactional leaders motivate their followers to perform as expected, whereas transformational leaders inspire them to do more than originally expected (Dionne et al., 2004). Most organizations use transformational and transactional leadership strategies, and successful leaders modify their strategies as the situation requires (Bass, 1996). Additionally, followers are most comfortable with a transformational leader and fear a transactional leader who is more likely to issue discipline. Transactional leadership strategies offer less employee empowerment and are more likely to dictate to the employee a precise way to approach and complete a task. They believe that exchange processes are ways of obtaining desired behaviours. Bass et al. (1987) argue that the transformational leadership style should be coordinated with the transactional style in some settings.
Borkowski (2015) distinguished between transactional leadership and transformational leadership by explaining that: transactional leadership is directed toward task accomplishment and the maintenance of good relations between the leader and subordinates throw consideration of performance and reward. And, Transformational leadership, contrasting transactional leadership, is directed toward the influence and management of institutional change and innovation through revitalization and
This model has been used over decades in research to chime in on the importance of knowing the behavior of leader’s and their effect on those who work for them. According to Brymer and Gray (2006), effective transformational leadership ensures a supportive culture and does not require boundaries and guidance. The concept of transformational leadership was created to bring together leaders and those who work for them, which in turn impact those in whom they serve because their personality is viewed in a positive
Transformational leadership theory conceptualized in the late 1970’s, proposed that leaders could motivate followers through shared vision and mutual interest to uplift the entire organization to a higher morality (Burns, 1978). Morality was defined as leaders and followers working together to fulfill organizational goals and achieve higher performances within a context of change and innovation. Leaders would surpass their own self-interest, in order to, foresee, foster, and indoctrinate a new organizational vision to their followers. Bass operationalized Burns’ seminal work into a leadership model to better indentify transformational leadership characteristics. The model emphasized four dimensions such as idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration in order to achieve success.
Transactional leader accomplishes goals by bounties workers UN agency convene potential (Bass, 1990). These rewards are available the form of recognition pay will increase and advancement. Such transactions the promise of reward permanently performance and restraint for poor performance.
This is where transformational leaders excel in their roles as motivators and change agents; however, one characteristic that resonates most with followers is the leader’s ability to define vision and mission. Ballou (2015) used the analogy of an orchestra conductor possessing the musical score that provides the details for every participant in the ensemble. The ability of the leader to bring clarity to the vision enables followers to understand the ‘why’ of their hard work. While seemingly autocratic, followers accept direction from transformational leaders because they demonstrate selflessness and are most interested in the team’s success, not their own. These highly regarded traits can alleviate tension in diverse groups by focusing on the vision, not individual differences. While there are similarities between the servant and transformational leader, there are important differences as well. In the book, The Leadership Challenge (2002, p. 153), the authors suggested that transformational leadership affects not only the followers, but the leader as well, by raising each other to achieve the higher purposes of motivation and morality. Another vital component of transformational leadership is the fostering of participation when making decisions. It is never the intention of the leader to inject his or her opinion, especially at the onset of the process. This ability allows followers to arrive at consensus by encouraging team participation, which invites involvement and buy-in of the vision, while decreasing the likelihood of inter-team conflict. The true transformational leader inspires the team because they have achieved a high level of self-actualization, which allows them to encourage and recognize the achievements of others without feeling threatened. When followers are fortunate enough to be led by a transformational
In ‘Leader-Member Exchange, Transformational Leadership, and Value System’ Krishnan (2005) noted that according to Burns, ‘the result of transforming leadership is a relationship of mutual stimulation and elevation that converts followers into leaders and convert leaders into moral agent’, which means that both leaders and team members offer one another. In this case, leaders serve their followers, create conditions for their further development, and make them feel free and independent in their work. Burns also claimed that ‘leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation’, i.e. the transformational leadership is possible because of both, the team members and leaders, become better and improve each other (Gupta & Krishnan 2004, p. 14). Bass further expanded the theory proposed by Burns and introduced it into the organizational context. He defined transformational leaders as leaders who motivate followers to do more than they expected to do initially. Transformational leaders are attentive to the team members needs; however, it takes time to develop strong emotional bonds between them. Nevertheless, leaders always encourage their followers to give their best. The leaders help people to look beyond their self-interest for the good of the whole group, organization, or society. They also help followers understand the need of emotional and intellectual change; commit to greatness that lies down in aspiration for business effectiveness ‘such as profits and high stock value, as well as impeccable ethics’(Dubrin et al 2006, p. 107). Owing to leaders, the team members know the goals and the ways to achieve them.
Transformational leadership can be defined as causing a change in individual and social system. Besides, transformational leaders usually connect follower’s aspirational with the organizational goal and persuade the followers to achieve the organizational goals to satisfy themselves (Tauber, 2012).
ransactional leadership underlines the compliance with the organizational goals and performance expectations using rewards and punishments through supervision. Transactional leaders are task-oriented and outcome-oriented. When a company has a time and resources constraints, this type of leaders are very effective. They usually pay a close attention to how employees perform their tasks.
In this time of transition and uncertainty, research suggests that transformational leadership is highly effective (Straight, 2006). Leadership research has drifted from emphasis on the competence of leaders to “manage change” to the ability to “transform” organizations. Transformational leaders have attributes and behaviors needed to successfully motivate and empower employees. According to Bernard Bass (1990), transformational leadership occurs when a leader transforms, or changes, his or her followers in three important ways that together result in followers trusting the leader, performing behaviors that contribute to the achievement of organizational goals, and being motivated to perform at a high level. Transformational leaders can achieve greater performance by stimulating innovative ways of thinking and transforming follower’s beliefs and aspirations. Maxwell (Maxwell, 2007) articulates that most of the time, influence is more important than formal power or authority. I agree with him. Influence is very important in organizational and co...
In the ideal form, transformational leadership creates valuable and positive change with the end goal of developing followers into leaders. These may include connecting the followers sense of self and identity to the mission and the collective identity of the organization; being a role model for followers that inspires them; challenging followers to take greater pride for their work, and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of individuals, so the leader can associate followers with tasks that improve their performance. Transformational leaders focus on intrinsic motivation and personal development of their followers. They believe in five key aspects of being a leader, which are being creative, interactive, empowering, visionary and
There has been debate over what constitutes a leader so there is no wonder that the styles of leaders vary. Leaders must be able to motivate, mentor, coach and inspire others to reach organizational goals. Leadership style is the manner and approach of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people (Medina, 2011). All leaders of effective groups have four characteristics in common. First, they provide direction and meaning to the people they are leading and are responsible for keeping team members aware of important stated goals and objectives (Howard, 2005). Second, they generate trust by acting in an honest manner that creates an environment of trust (Howard, 2005). Third, they prefer action and risk taking and are willing to operate outside of the norm (Howard, 2005). Lastly, they are communicators of hope by using effective communication skills, leaders encourage others to believe that the expected behavior will result in successful realization of stated goal (Howard, 2005). A leader can be effective or ineffective depending on the situation because a leader's style is based on personality. My leadership style consists of servant-leader, transactional and transformational leadership. As a devout Christian, I was astonished that many of the servant-leadership character traits are easily defined in Christianity’s stewardship. I incorporate each of these styles in my daily interactions with my direct reports.
Transformational leadership is one of the most popular leadership styles. According to Kendrick (2011), “Transformational leadership involves four factors: 1. idealized influence, 2. inspirational motivation, 3. intellectual stimulation, and 4. individual consideration.” These four factors make transformational leadership have an impact on followers. The goal of transformational leadership is to cause a positive change in individuals, help motivate them, and develop a leader within each individual.
Certainly, an army would not be able to battle in the war without a commander who in charges of the whole strategy. Correspondingly, any organisations cannot function without leaders. Leader is the most substantial element of successful organizations. Becoming outstanding leaders, leadership skill is vital in order to drive the organizations forward. Several leadership principles are extensively used these days. Burns (1978) identified two types of leadership comprise of transactional and transformational leadership. Hence, leaders should be capable to indicate which theory should be applied in accordance with organization’s culture and objectives. This essay aims to evaluate the resemblances and the differences between transactional and transformational leadership as well as the feasibility to utilize a mixture of them by giving the definitions and examples followed by the supporting researches and studies.
According to brighthub.com, “transformational leadership encourages change through intellectual stimulation aimed at self-reflective change of values and beliefs”. Transformational leaders are not scared to discuss any challenges with their followers and will seek their followers’ help to resolves issues as they arise. For example, leaders can create an environment that encourages innovation and creativity. This will allow individuals in a group to feel as though their leadership are open to new ideas, are receptive to change and will not be discouraged from sharing their
Transformational leaders are needed to transform low performing organizations to acceptable to high performance. At other times, the leader is expected to move an organization from a crisis. In order to accomplish these tasks, the leader must overhaul the organization culture or subculture. This task is accomplished by nine ways of transforming others: 1. Raise others awareness. The leader makes others aware of the rewards and how to achieve them, i.e. pride in the job or financial incentives. 2. Help others look beyond self-interest. The transformational leader helps others to look at the “big picture” by describing an entire scenario, i.e. if we hire more employees to do x, we will have to make cuts in other areas. 3. Help people find self-fulfillment. The leader helps others not to focus on minor satisfactions, i.e. getting a job done before the deadline ...