In my previous post on Emotional Intelligence (EI) I discussed how critical it is for school and district leaders ‘to recognize, understand and manage their own emotions as well as the emotions of others.’ EI is a core requirement to being able to positively impact the collective performance of a school district. If leaders are attuned to themselves and others, their organization will run more smoothly and effectively, as well as be better positioned to have sustainable improvement.

Today I am exploring Transformational Leadership — something that builds on the concept of EI and which I also believe needs to frame a leader’s approach.

Transformational Leadership: A style of leadership that focuses on inspiring and motivating followers to achieve their full potential and beyond. Think of it as the leadership equivalent of a motivational pep talk, but with a lot more substance. It’s about creating a shared vision that enables buy-in.

What makes a leader truly transformational?

It’s not just about having a big title or a corner office. Transformational leadership is the secret sauce that turns a good team into a great one. It’s about inspiring and motivating one’s team to reach new heights. It is an absolute ‘must have’ if you’re wanting to make significant institutional changes. Change is never-ending, and if you want that change to lead to be better results, having your team motivated, engaged and on-board with the collective vision is a critical first step.

The Vision Thing

At its most fundamental understanding, a transformational leader has a clear vision for where they want to go. They see the big picture and know how to communicate it in a way that gets everyone excited. They do this by focusing on their team and how they contribute to the organization’s success. A transformational leader does not need to be centre-stage, but they do need to be conducting the orchestra from somewhere on stage, ensuring that every performer has relevance and can be heard. This means being inclusive, collaborative and most critically being emotionally intelligent. It also means knowing when to be out front, and when to be leading from the side or from the back.

Inspiring the Team

Transformational leaders are engaging and inspiring. They know how to get people excited about their work and keep them motivated. Celebrating people’s mistakes as much as their successes ensures that people feel safe taking professional risks to try something new — where the spirit of trying something that could be a significant change agent is encouraged — and where laughter and joy permeate the workspace.

The leader isn’t necessarily the loudest one in the room — they don’t need to be front-and-centre to make a difference. Think of Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Malala Yousafzai — three remarkable people who inspired the world with their vision and inclusivity of others, yet often letting their actions speak more loudly than their words. They didn’t need to grab a microphone, but when they did, people paid attention and came together with their message.

Where to Start

If you are leading a group of 5, 500 or 5000 people the same principles of being transformational apply. Start by developing a clear vision of where you want to go and use a variety of means to effectively communicate it. Involve others in the corporate storytelling by building a strong, collaborative team who believes in same vision — one where your team is enthusiastic about wanting to talk about its relevance — one that they’re proud to say belongs to them as much as it does the organization.

Transformational leadership is more than just a buzzword; it’s a powerful approach to leading and inspiring your team. By focusing on vision, team collaboration, and positive work culture, a leader can transform their organization and achieve great things.

Change Keeps Happening

We never really reach the finish line in public education. New context emerges and we adjust — we’re always tinkering with our structures, processes and approaches — always looking for that little advance that makes us better tomorrow. It’s what I love about our work.

When we can do this work with others on an enthusiastic team all pulling in the same direction, there truly is no better feeling. We’re in this together! This is where the Transformational Leader needs to live — in a space of some discomfort where we may not exactly know what lies ahead, but we eagerly await the next day knowing that we have an engaged and focused team willing to be in the challenge together.