Transformational Leadership And Oprah Winfrey: Two Types Of Leadership

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Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate and inspire others (Gill, 2006). It is therefore defined as a process whereby a leader influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal (Northouse, 2013). A leader has to make a decision for something to happen and provide his followers with clear direction (Rost et al, 1991). It will evoke feelings of challenge, excitement and involvement for the followers to proceed with the task (Gill, 2006). Based on Burns (1978) there are two types of basic leadership styles, transformational and transactional. Transactional leaders are in contact with an individual for an exchange that will occur between them while transformational leaders motivate and connect with their followers …show more content…

As a role model, the followers would be able to connect, trust and have confidence in the leader and would want to emulate them. The concept of idealized influence or charisma shows that leaders are also individuals who are “admired, respected and trusted” (Bass, Avolio, Jung & Bernson, 2003). On The Oprah Winfrey show, Winfrey invites her guests, who are her viewers, to share their problems with her and give them solutions to it. Winfrey has a high level of empathy and often shed tears over emotional interviews. It is also evident from the intonation of her voice, body language and the choice of words used (Winfrey and Lowe, 1998). When interviewing, Winfrey also speaks in a way that makes the interviewee feel that they are the only people there thus this makes the person comfortable with her. Amongst her favorite phrases in interviews are, “Breathe, let it go”, “I feel you” and “There is a way out” (Illouz, 2003). Winfrey is also a good listener and is always able to pick up key points in conversations by asking follow up questions regarding it and this makes her guest even more assured that she is genuinely concerned about their problems. Winfrey’s passion for communicating and creating bonds with her audience has garnered her follower’s trust and loyalty (Lussier et al,

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