What is Transformational Leadership and Why is it Important?

Transformational Leadership

Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping the success of an organisation. The leadership style that’s adopted has a direct impact on the performance of its employees and the overall morale of the company.

Unlike traditional leadership styles that focus on control and power, transformational leadership focuses on developing the potential of individuals and fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation, and creativity. Transformational leadership has several key components that make it unique and effective:

Key transformational leadership components:

  1. Charismatic component Charismatic leaders can influence the beliefs and values of their followers and create a sense of unity and purpose by inspiring others and creating a clear vision.
  2. Inspirational component Inspirational leaders are those who can motivate and inspire employees to work towards a common goal and by creating an inspiring and compelling vision. Inspirational leaders help employees understand the significance of their work and encourage them to take an active role in achieving the company’s goals.
  3. Intellectual component – Intellectual leaders are those who can create new ideas, strategies and solutions to complex problems. They encourage employees to think critically and creatively by fostering a culture of innovation and creativity and are always looking for new and better ways to do things.
  4. Individualised consideration component Coaching leaders are those who take the time to understand the needs, goals, and aspirations of their employees. They provide personalised support and guidance to help employees grow and develop. Coaching people through personalised support, empowerment and growth and development is a key part of employee engagement.

Why adopt transformational leadership?

Transformational leaders can create a sense of unity, purpose, and motivation within the organisation, which in turn leads to increased employee satisfaction and higher levels of performance:

  1. Employee motivation and engagement – Leaders inspire and motivate employees, creating a positive and engaged workplace culture. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, employee retention, and improved productivity.
  2. Personal and professional development – Leaders focus on developing the potential of individuals and providing personalised support and guidance. This helps employees grow and develop both personally and professionally, leading to increased job satisfaction and performance.
  3. Improved morale and teamwork – Leaders create a sense of unity, purpose and teamwork. This can lead to improved morale and a more positive workplace culture, where employees are motivated and willing to work together to achieve a common goal.
  4. Increased innovation and creativity – Leaders encourage creativity and innovation, challenging the status quo and foster a culture of change. This leads to increased creativity, innovation and problem-solving abilities among employees, which can help organisations remain competitive in a rapidly changing business environment.
  5. Better decision making – Leaders can create a positive and supportive work environment where employees feel empowered to make decisions and take ownership of their work. This leads to improved decision-making, accountability, and problem-solving abilities among employees.

All the above are essential for organisations that want to remain competitive, create a positive work environment, and achieve their goals.

How to become a transformational leader

Our unique 20Twenty Leadership Programme at Cardiff Met helps you to develop, empower and support your team so you can watch them soar to new heights.

The programme gives you the tools to develop your coaching methods and leadership style, create high performing teams and foster a culture of innovation, creativity and success.

The following resources provide additional insights and practical guidance on transformational leadership: