Have You Experienced Transformational Leadership?
Do you know what makes a leader transformation or transactional-or both? Below is a measure to
determine if a leader is a transactional, transitional, or passive avoidant leader. Think of the person
you recently observed in a leadership role. This could be a supervisor at work, the captain of an
athletic team, the head of a social group to which you belong, or anyone else who acted in a
leadership role. Answer the following questions based on your experiences with this target leader:
Directions: For each item, rate how frequently the leader engaged in the behavior described. Rate
each item from 0 = not at all to 4 = very frequently, if not always. “L” refers to the leader.
______ 1. I am proud of L. (0, not at all… 4 very much)
_____ 19. L teaches and coaches.
______ 2. L (Leader) goes beyond self-interest.
_____ 20. L differentiates among us.
______ 3. L has my respect.
_____ 21. L clarifies awards.
______ 4. L displays power and confidence.
_____ 22. L assists based on effort.
______ 5. L talks to values.
_____ 23. L rewards your achievements.
______ 6. L models ethical standards.
_____ 24. L recognizes your achievements.
______ 7. L considers moral/ethical parts of situations.
_____ 25. L focuses on your mistakes.
______ 8. L emphasizes the collective mission.
_____ 26. L puts out fires.
______ 9. L talks optimistically.
_____ 27. L tracks your mistakes.
_____ 10. L expresses confidence.
_____ 28. L concentrates on failures.
_____ 11. L talks enthusiastically.
_____ 29. L reacts to problems, if serious.
_____ 12. L arouses awareness of important issues.
_____ 30. L reacts to failure.
_____ 13. L. reexamines assumptions.
_____ 31. L’s philosophy is “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
_____ 14. L seeks different views.
_____ 32. L reacts to problems, if chronic.
_____ 15 L suggests new ways.
_____ 33. L avoids involvement.
_____ 16. L suggests different angles.
_____ 34. L is absent when needed.
_____ 17. L individualizes attention.
_____ 35. L avoids deciding.
_____ 18. L focuses on your strengths.
_____ 36. L delays responding.
Scoring the instrument:
Items 1-12: These items measure charisma. If the total score for these items is above 31, then
your leader displayed more than average charisma. If the score is greater than 43, then your
leader scored very high on charisma.
Items 13-16: These items measure intellectual stimulation. If the total score for these items is
greater than 10, your leader displayed more than average intellectual stimulation. If the score is
greater than 14, then your leader scored very high on intellectual stimulation.
Items 17-20: These items measure individual consideration. If your leader scored higher than
11, he or she is above average on individual consideration. If the score is greater than 15, then
your leader scored very high on individual consideration.
Items 21-24: These items measure contingent reward behavior. If your leader scored higher
than 10, then he or she displayed more than average contingent reward behavior. If the score is
greater than 14, then your leader scored very high on contingent reward behavior.
Items 25-28: These items measure management-by-exception behavior. If your leader scored
higher than 7, then he or she demonstrates higher than average management by exception
behavior. If the score is great than 11, then your leader scored very high on management by
exception behaviors.
Items 29-36: These items measure your leader’s tendencies toward passive management
behavior or laissez-faire leadership. If your manager scored more than an 8 on these items, he
or she displayed a more than average passive leadership style. If the score is greater than 16,
then your leader scored very high on passive management behavior.
Transformational leaders are characterized as being high on charisma, intellectual stimulation,
and individualized consideration. If your leader scored high on these three scales, then he or she
is a good example of a transformational leader.
Transactional leaders are high on providing contingent rewards and management-be-exception
behaviors. If your leaders scored high on these two scales, then he or she is most likely a
transactional leader. It is possible for a leader to be high on both transformational and
transactional leadership.
Passive avoidant or laissez-faire managers score high on avoidant/passive behaviors. If your
leader scored high on the last set of items, then he or she is most likely a passive leader.
You can also use this questionnaire to assess your own leadership style by giving it to people for
who you serve a leadership role.
Source: Based on B.J. Avolio, B.M. Bass and D.I Jung, “Re-examining the Component of the Transformational and Transactional Leadership
Using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire.” Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 72 (1999): 441-462.