TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

 TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

In this week article, we will be making a study into another style of leadership - TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP. 

Leadership is the ability to rally men and women towards a common goal and interest in the spirit of Capacity and Character building. Our case study this week is Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of United States of America.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US president was born on February 12th, 1809. He was an American Lawyer and a statesman and was sworn-in to 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He was an educated man who had passion for public education. He became a lawyer and U.S Congress man in 1849. He returned to his law practice but became vexed by the opening of additional lands to slavery as a result of the Kansas Nebraska Acts.. Lincoln led the nation through the America civil war, the country's greatest moral, cultural, constitutional and political crisis. He succeeded in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery boistering the federal government and modernizing the U.S economy.

His Legacy as a

Republican: Lincoln's redefinition of Republican values has been stressed by historians and was called declaration of Independence-which emphasizes freedom and equality for all.

Reunification of the State: in Lincoln's inaugural address, he explored the nature of democracy. He denounced succession as anarchy and explained that majority rules had to be balanced by constitutional restrains.

What then is transformation?

Transformation can be defined according to Mariam Webster dictionary as an act, process or instance of transforming or being transformed. To transform means to change the form of, nature of or the appearance of something, someone or an entity.

What is Transformational Leadership?

Transformational Leadership is a theory of leadership where a leader works with teams beyond their immediate self interest to identify needed change, creating a vision to guide the change through influence, inspiration and executing the change in tandem with committed members of a group. Transformational leadership is when the behaviors of leaders influence followers and inspire them to perform beyond their perceived capabilities.

Transformational leadership inspires people to achieve unexpected or remarkable results. Transformational Leadership also serves to enhance the motivation, morale and job performance of followers.Transformational leaders typically perform four distinct behaviors, also known as the four I's. These behaviors are as follows: Inspirational motivation, Idealized influence, Intellectual stimulation, Individualized consideration.

✓Inspirational motivation is when the leader inspires their followers to achieve. This leader sets high and reasonable goals for their followers and their organization. They inspire commitment and they create a shared vision for their organization.

✓Idealized influence is when the leader acts as a strong role model for their organization and leads by example. This leader consider the needs of their followers and prioritize their needs.

 

✓Intellectual stimulation is when the leader encourages their followers to think for themselves. These leaders are creative, innovative, and are very open to new ideas. They tend to be tolerant of their followers' mistakes, and even encourage them as they believe they promote growth and improvement within the organization.

✓Individualized consideration is when the leader establishes a strong relationship with their followers. These leaders act as a caring supportive resource for their followers and their organization. They mentor their followers and allocate their time to developing their followers potential.

These four behaviors were what Abraham Lincoln exercised and he is still regarded today as one of the best presidents United States of America ever had. Lincoln is remembered as a martyr and hero of the United States and is consistently ranked as one of the greatest presidents in American history. In the 21st century, President Barack Obama named Lincoln his favorite president and insisted on using the Lincoln Bible for his inaugural ceremonies.

TO BE CONTINUED

The Men That Lead

Building Manhood