The very essence of transformational leadership screams Hillary Diane Clinton. She exhibits the five fundamental practices that Kouzes and Posner developed that enables leaders to get extraordinary things accomplished (Northouse 2013 p.198). The five practices include: mode the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enabling others to act, and encouragement of the heart. These practices and her extraordinary values show how she is more than just an effective leader, but an inspirational one.
Hillary models the way of being an effective leader by being clear about her own values and philosophy of making our country safer and stronger. She was able to inspire a shared vision during her term as secretary of state; she used her position to make women’s rights and human rights a central talking point of U.S. initiatives (Biography.com). Announcing her plans to strive for another first–to be the first female president challenged the process and status quo by stepping into the unknown. No other woman has run for the Presidency of the United States before or after her.
By being the first lady of Arkansas and the White House, she enabled others to act with her on her charities like the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee, the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and served on the boards of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital (Biography.com). She helped to create environments where people can feel good about their work and how it contributes to the greater community (Northouse 2013). Encouragement of the heart can be seen in Hillary as she stood by her husband’s side throughout his controversial presidency. She did this by taking the focus off his adultery and put it on his hard work as a president “The outcome of this kind of support is greater collective identity and community spirit” (Northouse 2013 p.199).
Transformational leadership is Hillary Clinton. She empowered her team at The State Department and the nation to raise their consciousness and get them to transcend their own self-interest for the sake of others (Northouse 2013). As it is common for transformational leaders to create a vision, she went well beyond that and lived it. She took it upon herself to get involved in government and help shape its meaning. Along with her ability to build trust and collaborate with others, she is extremely effective in using Kouzes and Posner five principles of leadership. Hilary places a strong emphasis on her followers’ needs, values and morals and demonstrates how she uses the transformational approach to set her apart.
References:
“Hillary Clinton Biography.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 16 June 2013.
Northouse, Peter Guy. Leadership: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks: SAGE, 2013. Print.
MORGAN ALEXA BURROWS says
Amy,
Hilary Clinton is indeed a transforming and inspiring leader. The most obvious factors to me relating to Hilary from the Transformational Leadership Factors Model include Idealized Influence and Inspirational Motivation (Northouse, 2013). Hilary very well acts as a strong role model for followers, especially in the points you made about her accomplishments as U.S. Secretary of State. Her accomplishments as a women as inspirational to other women, the same women that can identify with Hilary and very much emulate her, which Northouse (2013) defines as important characteristics of Idealized Influence in a Transformational leader. Hilary Clinton is empower, has a vision, and is effective with action of that vision.
Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice. (6 ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publishing.
TIKESHA LANEZE CRUMP says
While reviewing transformational leadership, I had not thought of Hilary Clinton as an example. Although, through your examples, it is evident that she does model those five best practices identified by Kouzes and Posner (Northouse 2013). Her ability to Model the Way in the face of adversity while her marriage was ridiculed and her husband impeached was admirable. One can only understand her strength, but would look up to her if faced with a similar situation. Followers need to keep in mind “why they are doing what they are doing”, and leaders who model the way find the means to motivate others toward what they are striving for (Kouzes & Posner 2007). As you mentioned, Hilary tried to keep the focus on the presidency and everything that her husband was able to accomplish in office. Do you think that she was doing damage control for her career as a politician as well? Their advisors were very skillful in managing to maintain his record, and approval rating, while in office and still recognized as one of the best presidents we’ve had. Top 10 Lists because of his foreign policy and managing a technology boom (Newsweek 2012).
Kouzes, James; Posner, Barry (2007) The Leadership Challenge, Fourth Ed, Jossey-Bass
Newsweek (2012) The Daily Beast: Newsweek’s 10 Best Presidents, Retrieved on July 5, 2013 from http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/09/24/from-franklin-delano-roosevelt-to-john-f-kennedy-newsweek-s-10-best-presidents-photos.html#4084ea8b-f515-41f5-8f1a-34b199fb9a4d
Northouse, Peter G. (2013) Leadership Theory and Practice, Sixth Ed, Sage Publications
ASHLEY MERRYMAN says
Amy,
I enjoyed reading your blog on Hilary Clinton-The Transformational Leader. When we were working on our team paper on Bill Clinton, I often thought about Hilary, and how effective she is as a leader. I agree with you that she is more than an effective leader but an inspirational one. Shambaugh (2010), “Smart Power,” as Clinton has described the term, is the ability to continuously learn new things and adapt to new situations in order to successfully navigate complex change” (para. 14). The ability to adapt is imperative in any type of leadership, especially in political situations. Empowering people to share the same vision and work towards that shared goal are an important aspect of Transformational Leadership. She seems to have an altruistic characteristic that provides her motivation to make a difference. Self-sacrifice is crucial when fulfilling the needs of others. I think that the best types of leaders are the ones that provide inspiration to their followers.
References
Shambaugh, R. (2010). Leadership Secrets Of Hillary Clinton. Retrieved on June 16, 2013 from http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/21/hillary-clinton-leadership-lessons-resilience-forbes-woman-leadership-communication-connection.html.