Transformational Leadership: Learning to Inspire and Transform

“The only constant is change.”

Heraclitus’ words, despite being over 2,500 years old, resonate more strongly than ever in today’s uncertain economic landscape and with the constant renewal of digital technologies that revolutionize the business scene every five years.

In fact, change is becoming integrated into all levels of the business spectrum to the point that change and transformation have ceased to be something to be feared and avoided, but rather something to be sought and embraced from leadership positions.

This is how we arrive at the concept of transformational leadership, which describes a concept that can drive positive change in both companies and individuals. How much do you know about this concept?

At Talent2Win, we have extensive experience in executive talent acquisition and management, so we are experts in the subject. In the following article, we will tell you what transformational leadership is, its origin, and how to put it into practice.

What is transformational leadership?

Transformational leadership focuses on inspiring and motivating people to develop and change at a personal level, in order to achieve common goals and overcome challenges. This is how significant changes can be achieved on a larger scale.

Therefore, many consider that this leadership style goes beyond task management. It requires a genuine interest, interaction, and empathy for the people within the team.

Like any other type of leadership, transformational leadership also seeks to achieve objectives, but it does so through the active involvement of team members in each of the initiatives outlined towards the final goal.

This is why transformational leaders not only establish a clear vision for the future but also inspire people to believe in that vision and work together to make it a reality. The result is often teams with better performance, greater involvement, and overall better performance.

Origin of transformational leadership

Transformational leadership is not really a new concept. In fact, the term “transformational leadership” was coined by James MacGregor Burns in his 1978 book “Leadership” and is therefore considered the father of this concept.

Subsequently, the idea of transformational leadership has been developed in greater depth by authors such as Bernard Bass, Bruce Avolio, and Warren Bennis.

Characteristics of transformational leadership

• Inspiring vision

Everything starts with the vision that will move the team towards its goals. Transformational leaders have a clear and passionate vision of the future and are able to communicate that vision convincingly to their teams.

• Inspirational motivation

Another characteristic of transformational leadership is its characteristic of creating a positive and motivating work environment. To do this, the transformational leader is concerned with creating a workspace where each team member feels valued and empowered.

• Learning culture

Here the transformation points to both people and the organization. What kind of transformation? The one that allows the team to grow and develop, thus improving the functioning of the company. To do this, the transformational leader fosters a continuous learning environment where people feel motivated to develop new skills and knowledge.

• Empowerment

Hand in hand with the ability to inspire, transformational leadership is characterized by empowering team members. How is this achieved? Leaders delegate authority and responsibilities to their teams progressively, fostering autonomy and initiative.

How to develop transformational leadership

• Develop a clear vision

As we saw initially, a transformational leader promotes the participation of people towards a desired goal. To do this, the leader must first define an inspiring vision of what they want to achieve and communicate it to their team clearly and passionately.

• Foster collaboration

Once team members are involved, the next step is to promote interaction, integration, and collaboration among people. Remember that the best initiatives arise from the exchange of ideas and perspectives. To do this, it is necessary to create a collaborative work environment where everyone’s ideas are valued.

• Recognize and reward achievement

Part of stimulating and involving the team involves recognizing their achievements. The transformational leader celebrates the successes of his team and individually recognizes the contributions of each member. Here you could use a work recognition program.

• Practice active listening

You cannot forget that your team members are human beings with good and bad days. So, whether they show great performance or their performance is diminished, it is necessary to listen carefully to the ideas and concerns of team members. Remember that active listening is a key component of effective communication.

• Develop your emotional intelligence

Last but not least, it is essential that you work on your emotional intelligence. This is nothing more than the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as those of others. This quality is fundamental for transformational leadership.

Let’s recap!

Transformational leadership is a powerful tool to drive change and growth in organizations. If you want to be a more effective leader, developing your transformational leadership skills is a worthwhile investment.

Remember that transformational leadership is not a destination, but a continuous journey. By cultivating the qualities of a transformational leader, you can make a significant difference in your organization and in the lives of the people around you.

Talent2Win offers borderless talent consulting solutions tailored to your company. If you would like to learn about our Executive Search, Talent Acquisition or RPO services, please do not hesitate to contact us.