Class assignment – for submission explain your answers, no bullet points.
2 pages single spaced 12 font size. Can include questions and make the font size larger than 12 to make it reach 2 full pages.
Review this HBR article:
HBR article (https://hbr.org/2017/05/what-the-best-transformational-leaders-do)
- What is the central theme of the article?
- What are the key factors in changing or transforming a company?
- What challenges do you foresee and what steps do you take to ensure a company transformation?
- What leadership skills do you need to lead a company through to transformation?
- Identify a transformational leader in the world today. Explain why this person is your favourite transformational leader and what qualities you admire in him/her?
Class materials for helping answering questions
ave you ever been in a group where someone took control of the situation by conveying a clear vision of the group’s goals, a marked passion for the work, and an ability to make the rest of the group feel recharged and energized? This person just might be what is called a transformational leader.
is a that can inspire positive changes in those who follow. Transformational leaders are generally energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate. Not only are these leaders concerned and involved in the process; they are also focused on as well.
The concept of was initially introduced by leadership expert and presidential biographer James MacGregor Burns. According to Burns, transformational can be seen when “leaders and followers make each other to advance to a higher level of moral and motivation.”1
Through the strength of their vision and personality, transformational leaders are able to inspire followers to change expectations, perceptions, and to work towards common goals.
Later, researcher Bernard M. Bass expanded upon Burns’s original ideas to develop what is today referred to as Basss Theory. According to Bass, can be defined based on the impact that it has on followers. Transformational leaders, Bass suggested, garner trust, respect, and admiration from their followers.
Bass also suggested that there were four different components of .
- Intellectual Stimulation: Transformational leaders not only challenge the status quo; they also encourage among followers. The leader encourages followers to explore new ways of doing things and new opportunities to learn.
- Individualized Consideration: also involves offering support and encouragement to individual followers. In order to foster supportive relationships, transformational leaders keep lines of communication open so that followers feel free to share ideas and so that leaders can offer direct recognition of the unique contributions of each follower.
- Inspirational Motivation: Transformational leaders have a clear vision that they are able to articulate to followers. These leaders are also able to help followers experience the same passion and motivation to fulfill these goals.
- Idealized Influence: The transformational leader serve as a role model for followers. Because followers trust and respect the leader, they emulate this individual and internalize his or her ideals.
So what are some typical signs of a transformational leader? Groups led by this type of leader tend to be both successful and loyal. They give a lot to the team and care deeply about the group’s ability to accomplish its goals. Turnover tends to be quite low as transformational leaders are able to inspire a great deal of commitment in their followers.
