In a changing and dynamic business environment, finding a leader who dares to take risks and thinks ahead can be the key to success. This is what transformational leadership is all about. Allen Woo, a specialist in optimizing the work environment, explains why a transformational leader can be a key player in improving the workplace.
Transformational leadership is a method designed to foster change and creativity. It is a process that seeks to influence, guide and direct the members of a company to follow their leader voluntarily. The key lies in the commitment to achieve business objectives.
The role of the leader within companies has been essential to ensure the effectiveness and smooth running of all areas of the company. The leader is in charge of guiding the whole team in the same direction in order to achieve the set objectives together.
“Traditionally, the leader has been understood as a boss, but paradigms have changed, and theorists and companies are looking for a new style of leadership,” explains Woo. “This new leader must be able to transform the company's philosophy toward new and more effective ways of thinking.”
The transformational leader must not only drive change, but also sow the seeds of reasoning in his or her team so that everyone can understand the decisions being made within the company. This involves, for example, implementing career and job training plans.
The figure of the leader must be understood as an example to follow and an inspiration for the team to improve day by day and dare to face new challenges. The whole group must feel that they are in a highly motivating and stimulating environment, which is directly inspired by the figure and attitude of the leader in the work environment.
The performance of the workers increases notably, since they tend to do their best to achieve the objectives proposed by the leader and by the organization in general. Having a high rate of inspiration and motivation on the part of the leaders makes the team capable of responding to the needs of the organizations, which tend to be increasingly complex.
“The workforce significantly increases its flexibility and therefore adapts better to change and works effectively under high levels of pressure. Transformational leadership has a positive impact on employee self-esteem as the leader's motivation makes employees feel more self-confident and more aware of their value as assets within the company they are part of,” says Woo.
Hunger for knowledge and continuous curiosity should be the two main characteristics of a transformational leader. Therefore, training plans are key, both to improve the leader's figure and to implement them among his or her team in order to keep moving forward into the future.
“Words and actions must go hand in hand so that consistency is present in all the decisions we make,” suggests Woo. “If you want your team to bet on innovation, the leader must be the first to step forward and take the risk to take this path.”
To help you on this tough road of team leadership, several platforms offer HR indicators suitable to shed enough light on where you are going, so you can measure the key aspects of each department. The ultimate goal of transformational leadership is to get employees to follow the leader's lead to improve and move forward. Taking risks and facing potential failures are part of the road to success.
Transforming a company, no matter how flexible, is a long, slow process that must be pursued and kept in mind. The present does matter, but decisions must be made by thinking about where you want to go.
The transformational leader must trust in the capabilities of the people under his command. Knowing each employee is key to fostering their skills and helping them to give their best. Trust must be palpable for your team, that is, you must make sure, as a leader, to transmit to your team that you believe in them 100%.
About Allen Woo
Allen Woo is a self-taught expert in business and personnel management. Originally from Canada, he has spent much of his adult life honing his innate skills in motivation and personal growth. Woo dedicates his time to helping businesses and individuals make significant improvements in their daily interactions, constantly exploring new methods to motivate and enhance teams. When he's away from responsibilities, he likes to focus on inner growth and enjoys outdoor activities that exercise the body and the mind.
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