What Are the Principal Distinctions Between Transactional and Transformational Leadership?

What are the Principal distinctions between transactional and transformational leadership?

Transactional Leaders

1. Transactional leaders motivate their followers in the direction of established goals by also clarifying role and task requirement (OB: Robbins &Judge pg437)

2.Transactional leadership is based on a transaction or exchange of something of value the leader possesses or controls that the follower wants in return for his/her services.e.g job for votes or subsidies for campaign contributions

3. Transactional style is precisely what happens in contracting scenario. The contractor provides the specified service purchased.

4Transactional leadership style only works well when both leader and led understand and are in agreement about which tasks are important

5. From R.Kegan’s six stage development theory –Transactional leaders for example are stage 2 leader what they do for the organization is done for whatever the organization has promised in return for the persons output.

6. Transactional leader used higher order level to persuade their follower although their beliefs and goals typically have not change (Bass, 1985)

7. They are active in management style to make sure the led does not deviate from rules and standards, if otherwise they take action (OB: Robbins & Judge Pg 437)

8. Management by exception they look unconcern until when standards are not met-passive (OB: Robbins & Judge Pg 437)

9. They avoid taking responsibilities in order not to make any decisions-Laissez-faire.

Transformational leadership

1. From R.Kegans six stage developmental theory –Transformational leaders are stage 4 leaders who have internalized a sense of commitment to their goals and articulate this in such a way to their followers so as to convert them to a high level of commitment as well

2. They influence their followers by providing vision and sense of mission instills pride and eventually gains respect and trust from them (OB: Robbins & Judge Pg 347)

3. They create inspirational motivation by communicating high expectations through the use of symbols to focus their effort. (OB: Robbins & Judge Pg 347)

4. They promote intellectual capability and solving initiative among their subordinate.

5. They give personal attention to their employee and treat them of such (OB: Robbins & Judge Pg 347)

6. They do more than simply lead; stimulate others to transcend their own needs and interests for a common goal.

Examples of transformational leadership are Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela, Andrea Jung at Avon, Richard Branson of Virgin Group to mention a view.

How Transformational leadership create a higher level of moral aspiration for followers and leaders alike?

This can best be explained by what Bass and Steidlmeier gave a warning “Transformational leadership is seen as immoral in the manner that it moves members to sacrifice their own life plans for the sake of organizational needs and there is no moral justification for the vision of the CEO becoming the future sought by the employee” But in order to overcome such situation the leaders agenda must be uplifting and as Burns said “Transforming leadership ultimately becomes moral in that it raises the level of human conduct and ethical aspiration of both leader and the led, and thus it has transforming effect on both”. Although Transformational leadership may be double – edged, however, with high moral values as ethics supported by both leader and led, the dark side is mitigated and forces for good are championed.

Is there a Link between transformational leadership and Emotional intelligence?

Transformational leadership has high emotional intelligence (EQ) and they often rely on it to motivate and transform their followers more than transactional and laissez-faire leaders

Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. and Nelson Mandela are unique men who have had a similar, transformational effect upon their followers .They are able to turn their vision into reality .This is a power of emotional intelligence in leadership

What Makes a teams so Successful

The followings can be attributed to what makes teams to be successful or effective