Transformational Leadership

Transformational Leadership is a leadership style in which the leader takes on the role of motivator, supporter and encourager. It is a vast contrast to the traditional type of leadership role most people interact with. Instead of the leader being a dictator who spews out directives and checks to make sure everyone follows them to the letter, and transformational leader is more of a facilitator who strives to develop and coerce team members to be the best contributor they can be. It reminds me of the old saying that one can catch more flies with honey. By this I mean that as a transformational leader you can get your team to contribute more when you use positive strategies and reinforcement to build them up to be the workers you want them to become, instead of using harsh directives to bully them into submission or forced cooperation.

The strategies used in transformational leadership can help an administrator in leading a school. The administrator can take on the role of a mentor or coach, instead of a boss. By doing this the administrator opens up the door for a genuine relationship with their staff members. The administrator is then able to learn about the personal interests, abilities and goals of staff members. As a result the leader can now find ways and methods to help staff members reach their full potential and in turn help create more transformational leaders. Transformational leaders also have a vision and make sure that team members help develop and implement the vision. By doing this the leader has a better chance of team members buy in and cooperation regarding which direction the organization will go.

Regarding integrating technology and instruction, a transformational leader can model how technology can be used in a school setting. By setting up and maintaining online communication systems an administrator can show staff how technology can assist in accomplishing tasks more quickly. Also, transformational leaders can use technological advances in helping staff promote their own personal creative skills set. By encouraging staff to use technology inside and out of the classroom the transformational leader not only allows his or her staff to invent new ways of teaching but also creates a new vein of discussion and collaboration that provides new learning opportunities.