Transformational Leadership

Abstract

Transformational leadership is the process in which leaders play an idealized role model, stimulate and encourage innovative work behavior, provide inspirational motivation, engage in supporting and mentoring followers to achieve the organization's shared vision and goals, and create a connection that raises the level of motivation and morality in both the leader and the follower. This type of leader is attentive to the needs and motives of followers and supports each follower in reaching their fullest potential. The authors' experiences and success as transformational leaders and educators provide evidence of the truth of these findings. The authors will highlight personality characteristics, behaviors, and effects on practitioners, professors, and students of transformational leadership. The authors will show how transformational leaders and educators move followers from unquestioningly accepting provided information and directives to reflective, goal-oriented, critical thinkers.