Transformational leadership

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Transformational leadership is a theory of leadership when a leader's behaviors influence their followers and inspire them to perform beyond their perceived capabilities. Transformational leadership inspires people to achieve unexpected or remarkable results. Transformational leaders work with teams or followers beyond their immediate self-interests to identify necessary change. They create a vision to guide the change through influence and inspiration. These changes are executed in tandem with committed group members and involve self-interests. This elevates the follower's ideals, maturity levels, and concerns for achievement.^[1][2][3] Transformational leadership is an integral part of the Full Range Leadership Model and gives workers autonomy over specific jobs, as well as the authority to make decisions once they have been trained. This induces a positive change in the followers' attitudes and the organization. Transformational leaders typically perform four distinct behaviors, known as The 4 I's. These behaviors are inspirational motivation, idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration.

Transformational leadership enhances followers' motivation, morale, and job performance through various mechanisms. Transformational leaders connect their follower's sense of identity and self to a project and the organization's collective identity. They serve as role models by inspiring their followers and raising their interest in their projects. These leaders challenge followers to take greater ownership of their work. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of followers, transformational leaders can assign tasks that their followers align with to enhance their performance.

Transformational leadership enhances followers' commitment, involvement, loyalty, and performance. Followers exert extra effort to support the leader, emulate the leader to emotionally identify with them, and maintain obedience without losing self esteem.^[4] Transformational leaders are strong in the ability to adapt to different situations, share a collective consciousness, self-manage, and inspire. Transformational leadership can be practiced but is efficient when it is authentic to an individual. Transformational leaders focus on how decision making benefits their organization and the community rather than their personal gains.