ADM 612 - Leadership
Lecture 10 – Transformational
Leadership Theory
Introduction
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Transformational leadership has been
the subject of much recent research.
Process that changes and transforms
individuals.
Introduction
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Concerned with emotions, values, ethics,
standards, and long-term goals and involves
assessing followers’ motives, satisfying their needs,
and treating them as full human beings.
Exceptional form of influence that motivates
followers to do more than is expected of them.
Often linked to visionary and charismatic
leadership.
Transformational Leadership
Defined
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Transactional leadership is most
common and involves exchanges
between leaders and followers.
Transformational Leadership
Defined
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Transformational leadership refers to
the process whereby an individual
engages with others and creates a
connection that raises the level of
motivation and morality in both the
leader and the follower.
House’s
Theory of
Charismatic
Leadership
Bass’s Theory of
Transformational Leadership
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Motivates followers to do more than
expected by:
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Raising followers’ level of consciousness about
the importance and value of goals.
Getting followers to transcend their own selfinterest for the good of the team or organization.
Moving followers to address higher level needs.
Bass: Leadership Continuum
Bass: Leadership Factors
Full Range
of
Leadership
Model
Transformational Leadership
Factors
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Idealized influence – Leaders who act
as strong role models for followers.
Inspirational motivation – Leaders who
communicate high expectations,
inspiring them to become committed to
organizational goals.
Transformational Leadership
Factors
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Intellectual stimulation – Leaders who
stimulate followers to be creative and
innovative.
Individualized consideration – Leaders
who provide a supportive climate in
which they listen to needs of followers.
Transactional Leadership Factors
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Contingent reward – Leaders try to obtain
agreement on what needs to be done and what the
payoffs will be for the people doing it.
Management-by-exception – Leaders use
corrective criticism, negative feedback, and
negative reinforcement.
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Active: Micromanagement.
Passive: Problem-based intervention.
Nonleadership Factor
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Laissez-faire – The absence of
leadership: abdicate responsibility,
delay decision, give no feedback,
make no efforts to satisfy followers’
needs.
Additive Effect
of
Transformational
Leadership
Other Transformational
Perspectives
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Bennis and Nanus.
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Transforming leaders have a clear vision of the future
state of their organizations.
Transforming leaders are social architects for their
organizations.
Transforming leaders create trust by taking positions and
sticking with them.
Transforming leaders use creative deployment of self
through positive self-regard.
Other Transformational
Perspectives
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Tichy and Devanna.
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Act 1: Recognize the need for change.
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Encourage dissent.
Encourage objective assessment of outcomes.
Encourage visiting other organizations to identify
alternative approaches.
Act 2: Create a vision.
Act 3: Institutionalizing changes.
How Does Transformational
Leadership Work?
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Transformational leaders set out to empower
followers and nurture them to change.
They become strong role models for their followers.
They create a vision.
They act as change agents who initiate and
implement new directions.
They act as social architects.
Strengths
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Widely researched from many different
perspectives.
It has intuitive appeal as a concept.
It treats leadership as a process
between leaders and followers.
Strengths
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It offers an expanded picture of leadership.
Most other models are transactional.
It has a strong emphasis on followers’
needs, values, and morals.
It has substantial evidence of being
effective.
Criticisms
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Lacks conceptual clarity.
The measurement scale does not
always distinguish clearly among
factors.
It is a trait theory rather than a
behavioral theory.
Criticisms
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Tends to be elitist and antidemocratic.
Has a heroic leadership bias.
May not work on all levels of the
organization.
Has the potential to be abused.
Application
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Provides a broad set of generalizations
about what is typical of transforming
leaders.
The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire
can be used in training programs to identify
leadership strengths and weaknesses.
Many training programs focus on creating a
vision.