As we learned in our lesson on transformational leadership, we are more likely to find this type of leader in public institutions and at lower organizational levels (Avolio & Bass, 2000). I found this idea to be pretty interesting, as I would have assumed it to be quite the opposite. After re-reading the different factors that transformational leadership is known for, I identified one of these amazing and motivating people in my own workplace. Those of you who have read or responded to previous posts of mine might recall that I was in the military for a few years and have since transitioned to a civilian ‘nine-to-five’ desk job. While the world of insurance is not something most people are easily excited about, there is one trainer there that is just superb. He is charismatic, knowledgeable, approachable, and constantly working toward improving things at all levels of our business; these are all factors that a transformational leader embodies (PSU, 2018). Let’s call him Larry.
So, Larry is great, everyone loves him, and he has been with the company for over 30 years. When I first met him, on my first day, I assumed he was higher corporate. But in fact, he has been offered many different promotions and has refused all of them because as a trainer he can impart the greatest impact and see where the company needs to focus and improve. You can ask Larry anything, and if by some fluke he didn’t have the answer, he would work relentlessly to find the answer and explain it to you in impeccable detail until you can clearly understand the topic from any angle. His leadership characteristics include being future-oriented, confident, having the ability to clearly share his ideas and visions for improvement, as well as being very personable (PSU, 2018).
Now I do not know if Larry has always been like this, but if I had to guess, I would say he has. His direct impact on the company has been so substantial, and I can’t even conceptualize what his indirect impact might be. You can’t walk away from a discussion with this man without a smile on your face and a few great tips to make your work more efficient. As described in our lesson, “a transformational leader is basically a positive charismatic leader, they use ethical behavior, create a positive shared vision, and motivate followers to achieve that shared vision through strong emotional appeals” (PSU, 2018). This idea of charismatic or idealized influence, as it is referred to in our text, identifies these leaders as someone who acts as a strong role model for followers, they are well respected and trusted (Northouse, 2016). If I haven’t made it abundantly clear, I feel this man would make an awesome CEO, or president of the world. In any event, as I stated early, he is rather happy as a trainer in our insurance company, so that probably won’t happen.
Avolio, B.J., & Bass, B.M. (2000). Developing a Full Range of Leadership Potential: Cases on Transactional and Transformational Leadership. Binghamton: State University of New York at Binghamton.
PSU. (2018). Lesson 10: Transformational Leadership. Retrieved from PSYCH 485, Section 002: https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1925331/modules/items/23786606
Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
cdl5 says
The way you describe Larry makes it clear that he is a transformational leader. Transformational leadership has a strong impact on the ideals of followers, and is concerned with affecting their emotions, values, ethics, and long-term goals (Williams, 2018). If he does not want to accept promotions to higher positions within the organization, it is likely because he is not only comfortable with where he is now, but also because this is a position where he can utilize his leadership skills to their greatest extent. Transformational leaders are talented at sharing their visions, as well as developing strong bonds with followers (Williams, 2018). It is possible that Larry does not want to change positions because he wants to continue having the same influence as he does now.
One way that Larry has had an indirect impact on the company is that he has made a lasting impact on you. That will be his legacy. Transformational leaders are adept at heightening the emotional levels of followers, “which results in increased effort and performance” (Williams, 2018). That smile that he put on your face is a manifestation of the power of his leadership. Furthermore, Larry satisfies the prerequisite of needing charisma to be a transformational leader. His personable nature and sociability are used as his medium to share his vision and ideals. It is people like Larry who empower us to become the best versions of ourselves by putting forth an extended effort and contributing to the overarching vision of the organization.
References:
Williams, J. (2018). Lesson 10: Transformational leadership. Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved March 26, 2018, from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1923777/modules/items/23736269
Katelyn Chewning says
I think that you did an excellent job of capturing what a true transformational leader looks like in an everyday position. I also found it interesting that transformational leaders are more often found at lower levels of organizations, but towards the end of this lesson I began to understand why. According to Avolio, Zhu, Kho, and Bhatia transformational leaders often use intellectual stimulation as a way of connecting with followers (Avolio, Zhu, Koh, & Bhatia, 2004). You said that Larry’s demonstrates leader characteristics that include being future oriented, confident, and having superb communication skills. From the description of your experience, I am inclined to agree with your perception of the type of leadership that Larry demonstrates.
In our lesson this week we discussed the different types of characteristics that a transformational leader usually has. These include vision, rhetorical skills, image and trust building, and personalized leadership (Pennsylvania State University). You said that Larry has been with the company for a very long time and has turned down numerous promotions because he feels he can make the most impact in his current role. Larry is clearly dedicated the vision and future of the company, sacrificing possibly furthering his career for the betterment of the organization. It also sounds as if Larry has individual relationships with each employee. This is just another example of transformational leadership at its finest!
You are quite lucky to have such a powerful and talented leader in your workplace. Larry clearly not only has the characteristics of a transformational leader, but also the actions to back it up. He has clearly influenced your experience for the better and hopefully will continue to do that for many more to come. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me!
Avolio, B. J., Zhu, W., Koh, W., & Bhatia, P. (2004). Transformational leadership and organizational commitment: Mediating role of psychological empowerment and moderating role of structural distance. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 951-968. doi:10.1002/job.283
PSU. (2018). Lesson 10: Transformational Leadership. Retrieved from PSYCH 485, Section 002: https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1925331/modules/items/23786606