In this essay, the Writer will first describe the leadership theory/style that she prefers. She will also describe the pros and cons of this leadership theory/style by using literature. This will be followed by presenting a leader that the Writer admires. Then, she will identify this leader’s dominant leading style by providing some examples. The leadership style that this Writer prefers is transformational style of leadership.
She believes this style has the greatest chance or highest possibility of accomplishing the visions/s of any organisations in the community services sector: be it small, medium or large-scale organisations Bass (1985). Why did the Writer say this? Looking at the definition of transformational leadership according to Burns (1978): it is a leadership style where it can change the very nature of organisations. Clearly, by looking at this definition, this style of leadership can, if applied correctly by leaders, can shift the culture of organisations which can lead to aligning their employees to their vision/s; which in turn can achieve the outcome that organisations have set to achieve Bass (1985). Being able to shift culture or the status quo of organisations in community services sector can have the potential to impact the world globally. As Covey (1988) states: “transformational leadership transform people and organisations, enlarge vision, insight, and understand: clarify purpose; make behaviour congruent with beliefs, principles, or values: and bring about changes that are permanent self-perpetuating; and momentum building.” The Writer is specifically identifying the right type of transformational leadership style which specifically mentioned by Burns (1978) as authentic transformational leadership. Authentic transformational leaders are motivated by altruism and marked by integrity.
As Burns (1978) puts it, some leaders can use transformational strategies to reach immoral ends. They can act as a role model, provide intellectual stimulation, and be passionate about a cause. Yet the end-product of her/his efforts can be evil. An example of this is Hitler. He had a clear vision for Germany but left a trail of unprecedented death and destruction. Hitler had the charisma, was goal-oriented and motivated the German people through inspiration and persuasiveness but used his leadership qualities to commit harm to the world for such an extended period of time (www.graduateway.com, 2018). As leaders in community services and being agents of change, it requires that leaders apply this style of leadership for the right reasons. Authentic transformational leaders who lead their employees like Hitler can have immense impact in policy making and improving the quality of services being delivered to their Customers. Like Hitler, he worked with his followers, kept his followers focussed by using strong powerful speeches and other methods of instilling hope and trust that promised changes to better Germany. It changed Germany and transformed other countries.
Its changes had lasting impact. Said style of leadership was able to sustain the changes or Germany (www.graduateway.com, 2018). As such, the Writer believes this type of leadership can be very effective in community services as well. On this note, the Writer would like to follow through on describing the advantages of using transformational leadership. One advantage of this type of leadership is that it can keep and retain employees and customers. As Zellman (2018) puts it, “as transformational leader/manager fully works on their employees to satisfy their higher needs right alongside the needs of their organisation; employees will most likely feel that they “fit” with their organisation and decide to stay. As such, less turnover which means less hiring and training that leads to big savings.” Another advantage of transformational leadership is its ability to evaluate the organisation’s current goals and objectives situation and come up with a vision to improve or change said vision and organise for its growth. As transformational leaders are great communicators, they can communicate theirs’s and the organisations visions to their employees and get everyone to get on board. Transformational leaders can iron out the issues from the ground in such a way where it clears the way for everyone to get on doing the ‘business’ (www.graduateway.com, 2018).
Also, transformational leaders promote enthusiasm and energy in the work environment which in turn can create an atmosphere that is ripe for innovations. As it draws on employee full potential of self (self-actualisation), there is a great chance that employees will be able to produce higher level of efficiency and output as they internalise the visions that have been communicated to them by their leader (www.graduateway.com, 2018). At this point, the Writer will describe some of the disadvantages of using this type of leadership. Firstly, transformational leaders can be easily confused and may think that they are focussed on team building and collaboration with their employees but really what they can be doing is treating their employees as subordinates. Secondly, this style of leadership can depend too much on employees. It all really depends as to how the whole team act towards their leaders.
Employees can control as to how the direction of the team is going should there be conflict in aligning their leaders to their own interests which can leave the leader vulnerable. Lastly, it is hard not to play favourites with employees. Leaders are only human who can succumb to preferring an employee against another. “For transformational leadership to empower the entire team, leaders must make a concerted effort to include everyone, which sometimes means nurturing less experienced team members.” (Anon. n.d.). To complete this essay of transformational leadership, the Writer has chosen Philippines’ National Hero, Jose P. Rizal for the leader that she admires. Why Jose Rizal? Jose Rizal was such an example of what an authentic transformational leader looks like. He was visionary, charismatic, inspirational, incorruptible, a great communicator. He had integrity and was passionate about his conviction.
Due to who he was, Jose Rizal was able to invoke a sense of trust and solid relationship from his followers. Rizal was a type of a leader that was willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of others/for the good of the majority. Jose Rizal lived and breathed for his cause. He stirred the hearts of the Filipino people to fight and contend with him: freedom from the injustice, tyranny and enslavement of his people from the Spanish Rulers.
What was amazing was that he believed that fighting for his people’s freedom can be done in a peaceful way; that there was no need for violence. He believed in fighting for his country’s liberty through peaceful means rather than violent revolution. For him, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” He was well-known, admired, much loved and respected as a great leader by the Filipino people that a bill was passed and approved on 1956 called Republic Act 1425 otherwise known as Rizal Law. This Act mandates all high schools and universities curricula are to include a course in the study of Jose Rizal’s life, works and writings. Jose Rizal was a political figure who was as a writer/novelist used his talent in writing to author books, articles, journals that exposed the brutalities and injustices of the Spanish rulers during his time. What really got the Spanish authorities’ attention was the two outstanding controversial books Jose Rizal wrote in Spanish entitled Noli Me Tangere, 1887 (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo, 1891 (The Reign of Greed). The Spanish authorities banned the Filipino from reading these books. The more Filipinos were banned from reading it, the more Jose Rizal’s cause grew and latched on the hearts of the Filipino people. Their eyes were opened to the truth that they are suffering unspeakable abuses at the hand of the Spanish people. These two books are now considered his literary masterpieces and said to have indirectly sparked the Philippine Revolution. Jose Rizal continued with his fight for the Filipino’s freedom against the Spanish government by forming a progressive organisation called La Liga Filipina.
This civic movement advocated social reform through legal means. At this point, Jose Rizal was now considered even more of a threat by the Spanish authorities. They kept an eye on his activities and monitored his comings and goings. At one stage, he was detained and was put on house arrest where Rizal built a school, hospital, and water system. He helped in teaching farming and other agricultural projects. From Rizal’s death, Philippine Revolution continued until 1898. With the help of e United States, the Philippines declared its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.
