Transformational Leadership

At an organization I once worked at I had a manager who understood and fulfilled what it meant to be a transformational leader. He told all his staff that the sign that he was a good manager was to train others below him to be better equipped for the job than he was. He never felt threatened by any of his staff that if they learned more than him that his job might be in jeopardy but rather embraced the idea that he could develop new managers. He trained us, mentored us, and released us to do the work.

Transformational leaders see the big picture and the needs of the organization. They are not concerned with personal glory and recognition but want to see the team succeed above all else. There is a sense that although they know the next step to take they are more interested in others finding the right path also. Everything they do is about making everyone around them better, not just themselves.

I think of the Dr. House character on the House TV show. Although he seems to know the next step to be done he is always engaging his staff and encouraging them to determine the response for themselves.