Leadership Theories: Trait Theory, Behavioral Model, & More - Free Paper

Introduction

Leadership models mainly bring to our attention or explain to us how as well as why certain people get the opportunity to become leaders. The approaches emphasize that good traits plus behaviors that an individual adopts will assist him to become an outstanding leader with extraordinary leadership abilities. Some of the leadership skills are usually inherited since some are born with them (Dugan, 2017). Some of the leadership theories include trait theory, behavioral model, situational theory, management theory, excellent man approach, as well as transformational theory. My discussion will be based on the transformational leadership model, which is one of the theories of leadership.

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Transformational Leadership Model

It is a leadership theory where leaders of particular organizations or institutions work with a team to come up with a change. This vision will guide the change that has been made by inspiring it and also making sure that the change is executed by the members of an organization or institution in which you as the leader is in. Transformational leaders have the mandate to bring changes in the organizations or even to the individuals they are leading. With them working together with their followers, they always make sure that the people they are ruling are motivated in what they are doing and have the morale of carrying out any tasks and also making sure they produce an excellent performance (Berkovich, 2016). They usually create a good-performing workforce that is ready to go beyond the limits and produce good results. Transformational leaders typically make sure that he is always on the frontline in case of any issue he is ready to defend the team. The priorities of his team are still his priority since he has the mandate to make sure that they have confidence in him (Covelli & Mason, 2017). With the team having confidence in the leader and being free with him, they will always be willing to share their thoughts with the leader enabling the leader to know the strengths as well as the weaknesses of the people being led.

The word transformational leadership was first brought into lame light by a sociologist known as Downton James and later given more emphasis by another sociologist James MacGregor in 1978. James, in 1978, described a transformational leader as a person who can assist his team in taking upon any challenge and achieving the challenging goals. Later on, in 1985, another sociologist Bernard Bass added more information on what MacGregory had come up with on the theory hence adding a psychological notion (Galli, 2019). Bernard said that a leader who connects with their followers emotionally will always be chosen prominently.

Features of a Transformational Leader

Inspirational motivation

As a transformational leader, this is the essential characteristic that one should have. Their vision should always be consistent, tethered towards the end goal that the organization has been longing to achieve. Transformational leaders always assist in coming up with a compelling and challenging vision, but with the motivations that a manager gives to the followers, the entire team in an organization or institution will come together and work towards achieving the goal. The approaches they take as leaders are always crucial since they can separate the team or bring them together. Therefore, a good leader should always be motivated to achieve the main goal of the organization.

Idealized influence

Good transformational leaders will always follow whatever they preach to their followers and never relent. Whatever method or practices they adopt, they will always make sure that everyone adheres to them (Galli, 2019). To make sure that the entire team follows the principles as well as regulations issued to them, they make sure they obey the rules first before passing them to the whole team. They have to be the role models of the people they are governing, and for this, everyone in the group will follow the regulations issued to them strictly. Transformational leaders following the principles precisely will make them win the trust, respect, and loyalty of their followers.

Intellectual stimulation

Being creative as well as innovative is something that leaders should always portray. Them being creative will enable them to tackle any challenge that might come across their line of duty appropriately. Being innovative will allow them to come up with good ideas that will lead to them achieving their goals as leaders and the organizational goal (Ma & Jiang, 2018). In the process of leading, the managers can come up with a solution that fails, but sociologists urge them to take the failure as a motivation to keep them going preparing them for the future.

Individual consideration

Transformational leaders are like mentors in the team they are governing, and several members of their team look upon them. Individuals in their groups failing or creating a mistake should be corrected with encouragement, support, and even reward those who have made achievements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the transformational leadership approach as one of the theories of leadership has brought out clearly how a good leader should be and how they should rule their subjects. Being close with their team, motivating them, and rewarding their team for the excellent work they are doing will always encourage them to continue working hard. With them working hard, the organization these leaders are controlling is the one that will succeed since the main goal will be achieved.

References

Berkovich, I. (2016). School leaders and transformational leadership theory: Time to part ways? Journal of Educational Administration. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=School+leaders+and+transformational+leadership+theory%3A+Time+to+part+ways%3F.+Journal+of+Educational+Administration.

Covelli, B. J., & Mason, I. (2017). Linking theory to practice: Authentic leadership. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 16(3), 1-10. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Linking+theory+to+practice%3A+Authentic+leadership.+Academy+of+Strategic+Management+Journal

Dugan, J. P. (2017). Leadership theory: Cultivating critical perspectives. John Wiley & Sons.

Galli, B. J. (2019). A shared leadership approach to transformational leadership theory: Analysis of research methods and philosophies. In Scholarly Ethics and Publishing: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice (pp. 751-790). IGI Global.

Ma, X., & Jiang, W. (2018). Transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and employee creativity in entrepreneurial firms. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 54(3), 302-324. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Transformational+leadership%2C+transactional+leadership%2C+and+employee+creativity+in+entrepreneurial+firms.+The+Journal+of+Applied+Behavioral+Science%2C+54%283%29%2C+302-324.