When I think of leadership, the word that comes to mind is inspirational. How many leaders in history do we know that have given inspirational speeches that are remembered and quoted to this day? Many of our presidents, clergy, business leaders, coaches, etc. are often seen as inspirational when leading. In my church community our priest gives a sermon. I often say to myself prior to the start of the sermon “inspire me padre”.
Transformational approaches can come in the form of leading by example. “Inspirational leadership goes beyond the transaction between leaders and followers and literally transforms or changes situations and circumstances through personal example and the rhetorical capability for establishing vision (Shockley-Zalabak, 2012).” A good leader will lead by example in guiding with good values and good morals.
In keeping with the theme of leading by example, in dispersed leadership, leaders attempt to create leadership in others. Super-leaders will use self-management as the groundwork for leadership and act as models for their followers.
I have enjoyed reading how transformational leaders will engage followers and bring out the best in them to reach a high-level of self-esteem and self-actualization. In contrast we see the autocratic leader that makes decisions with little help from others. With that said, I do not believe that leaders are born with leadership talents. I believe that leaders learn to be great leaders with their skills.
They do require certain traits and there must be a desire to be a leader. A shy individual probably would not have the right traits or characteristics to be a leader.
Someone that inspires others and teaches their followers to be good leaders is a person we look up to as a mentor. In life we all look for someone to look up to and admire. We need good leadership in our schools, churches, businesses and they are the people we need to be able to look up to and have our children look up to them as well.
In the transformational approach, leaders encourage their followers to give that extra effort. Transformational leaders want to enable their followers to have the mindset to know they can function at higher levels and when they do they will have stronger commitments, stronger satisfaction and stronger motivation.
Shockley-Zalabak, P. (2012). Fundamentals of Organizational Communication: Knowledge, Sensitivity, Skills, Values (8th ed.). Glenview: Pearson Publications.