Transformational Journey after Learning Different Leadership Styles

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After reviewing the many different leadership styles this semester, I feel that my personal model of leadership fits most closely with James MacGregor Burns model of Transformational Leadership. Burns research focuses on how leaders can motivate and enhance working conditions to increase performance. While my experience with having a position in which I had the ability to produce leadership results has been few, the experiences I have had, have helped to shape my career and sharpen my interests. In the following pages, I will discuss my theoretical concepts that match with transformational leadership and how my professional mission, values, and goals coincide with the main principles of transformational leadership. I will also examine some examples of where I have witnessed good and bad leadership skills as well as some of my own personal leadership examples. Finally, I will discuss what my professional leadership goals are and how I aim to accomplish them.
Transformational leadership is comprised of four major characteristics, which are referred to as the four “I’s” of transformational leadership. They are:
• Intellectual Stimulation
• Individualized Consideration
• Idealized Influence
• Inspirational Motivation
My personal leadership style includes all of these characteristics. I utilize intellectual stimulation by challenging the norm or what is currently in place. I am constantly looking for innovative new ways to complete tasks that help to save time and help others complete their work more efficiently. I also believe in challenging yourself as well as others. If you challenge yourself to do better and your team or group sees your determination to finish or produce the desired results, they will follow in your example if yo...

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I believe that to be a great transformational leader you also need to be creative. You need to show your team members that you are not afraid to take risks and encourage others to do so. By showing that you encourage risk taking, you show your employees its okay if you make mistakes. When an idea does not work out the way it is intended, it is best to learn from the mistake versus pursue the option of punishment. In both my personal and professional life, I tend to use humor and sarcasm, so I make that up front with the team. I think this puts people more at ease when you can laugh at your own mistakes and let them know that you are only human and that everyone makes mistakes. It is also important to find creative ways to reward those that challenge themselves and are independent thinkers. These types of team members who are strong and are beneficial to all.

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