Leadership and Strategy

Leadership represents the process whereby a person imposes power on other individuals, as well as motivates, inspires and guides their undertakings to accomplish team or fundamental objectives. Usually, the effectiveness of any leadership style is measured by means of the goals achieved. The following paper analyzes the transformational leadership style and its application in an Austin corporation. It also offers a paradigm how each management style can impact the stated company’s running and alignment with values. Finally, the paper discusses the application of the leadership style in the work environment.

The Transformational Leadership Style

The transformational leadership theory appeals to me the most. It is defined as one whereby flag-bearers and their adherents raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation. The style is unique in that it sets clear objectives while acting as a model of integrity and impartiality. In addition, it has high expectations and entails encouraging others. The leadership style appeals since it has the capability to offer support and acknowledgment while stirring feelings of individuals (Vito, Higgins, & Denney, 2014). It makes the latter reflect beyond their personal interests and reach for the unlikely.

Austin Companies and the Transformational Leadership Style

In Austin, there are two companies, which use contrasting leadership styles in their operations. Austin Express represents an airline that has its notable success based on transformational leadership. The airline leadership started with a vision of a prospective prosperous courier and inspired workers towards achieving it. The transformational leadership saw the airline’s small fleet of jets grow and expand to becoming a chartered airline. The success of the corporation is attributed to charismatic leadership that has made the personnel aware of their roles in the accomplishment of the airlines’ vision.

On the contrary, there is another company in Austin that uses transactional leadership, where rewards and coercive powers are employed to ensure high performance. Emerald Air represented an airline situated in Austin. The company had fleets that traversed several states in America. However, its leadership strategy contributed to its downfall and bankruptcy in 1985. Punishing the personnel instead of motivating led to poor outcomes of trade. The firm was characterized by the leadership disregarding how much workers were capable of accomplishing tasks.

The Effect of the Leadership Styles on Austin Companies’ Performance and Alignment with Values

The effect of the leadership style on Emerald Air and Austin Express clearly shows their operations and the future of corporations. As for Austin Express, transformational leadership was and is still vital in the running of the airline whereby its success is attributed to efficient management. Intellectual stimulation, individualized tasks and motivations remain the fundamental success elements in the corporation. The transformational leadership approach might affect Austin Express alignment with the following values that include community cooperation, social accountability, balance equality, and diversity. According to Kendrick (2011), it leads to changes in individuals and social systems. The method can influence the personnel of Austin Express making them focus on high achievements. In case of the use of the transactional approach, gains resulting from the transformation style will be affected, and the company will deviate more from its set values.

Transactional leadership has been associated with the failure and the consequent fall of Emerald Air. It is essential to note that it is not an adverse leadership style but its effectiveness is determined how it is applied in the work environment. As a matter of fact, the most progressive transformational leaders use the transactional leadership style and reward subordinates as well. However, it focuses on a bigger picture of the overall corporation’s success and the achievement capability of employees. Values associated with transactional leadership entail mainly teleological ethics and utilitarian ones (Groves & LaRocca, 2011). Emerald Air can apply transformational leadership in combination with the transactional style, but in case of varied paradigms. According to Mokhber, Ismail, and Vakilbashi (2015), having an appropriate leadership approach is essential in supporting values of the staff while nurturing corporate and individual changes. It will affect the realignment with values positively, and the company would have survived in the economy. Transactional leadership had a negative influence since this approach uses the management-by-exception format to implement a working program (Vito et al., 2014). In addition, it had not made workers motivated unlike those paid to accomplish a task.

Preferred Leadership Style

My preferred leadership style is transformational leadership. It has been characterized by constant developments that are aimed at success of any undertaking. Through transformational leadership, junior staff members recognize the necessity of their roles and performance for the corporation or the employer. In addition, the personnel are cognizant of their wants for individual development, and that acts as a driving factor to toil for the benefit of any business. One thing with transformational leaders is that they are charismatic. The trait is revealed by their enthusiastic, self-confident nature and their capability to describe the vision of possible success efficiently. A charismatic leader will always institute continuous developments and improvements that give the corporation competitive advantage. Any follower’s motivation is typically governed by the inspiration of the leader. A transformational leader thereby can communicate the vision to subordinates.

Similarly, the stated leader can intellectually stimulate subordinates. The process entails making them aware of challenges and inspiring them to development. The move is achieved through sharing data with juniors to ensure that they are liable to change. This step makes the transformational leadership style distinctive, and subordinates are taught on how to view and deal with challenges consistently with the leader’s view. The leadership style further engages subordinates in development whereby they are nurtured to succeed in their jobs. The transformational leader inspires and strives to make juniors successful in their endeavors. When the style is effectively applied, there will be increased awareness of the value of subordinates roles and commendable performance, individual wants and goals, and the inspiration to work for the success of the corporation.

The Application of Transformational Leadership Style in the Work Environment

In my workplace, I would apply transformational leadership in numerous ways for the benefit of all. As a head, I would endeavor to ensure that subordinates are aware of the value of their contribution and job for the corporation and the importance of performing tasks efficiently. The personnel labor is essential for the company to accomplish its vision and mission. Regarding this, I would constantly be interacting with subordinates and clients to learn of their grievances and devise ways to solve the issues. I would also enquire from them about their views on the operations of the corporation and would ask for their contribution.

I would also apply the leadership style to make my subordinates aware of their wants for individual development, growth, and success. I would achieve this by increasing promotion prospects at the corporation and facilitate training to enhance their knowledge base. In my working environment, I would inspire my juniors to work harder for the good of the business since it would mean good for everyone. I would ensure that the personnel focus on what is only relevant to customers’ needs and are aware that when they engage in something contrary to the values and guidelines of the corporation, they will be doing the wrong thing. In addition, I would use the style to motivate subordinates, which will assist in the accomplishment of business objectives. I would practice the style by creating an inspiring vision of the future and motivate workers to contribute to and deliver the vision. I would also manage this process and build stronger, trust-founded relations with my employees.

Conclusion

Leadership styles have been observed to play a significant role in the success and downfalls of businesses. Transformational leadership has been viewed to be useful in facilitating accomplishments of the corporation’s vision. All that matters includes making juniors cognizant of how essential their roles are for the company and the importance of their efforts for business success. Making subordinates aware of their individual wants is also imperative in accomplishing company’s vision. Lastly, the style entails motivation, and that explains its difference from the transactional leadership styles.

References

Groves, S. K., & LaRocca, A. M. (2011). An empirical study of leader ethical values, transformational and transactional leadership, and follower attitudes toward corporate social responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 103, 511-528.

Kendrick, J. (2011). Transformational leadership changing individuals & social systems. Professional Safety, 56 (11), 14.

Mokhber, M., Ismail, W., & Vakilbashi, A. (2015). Effects of transformational leadership and its components on organizational innovation. Iranian Journal of Management Studies, 8 (2), 221-241.

Vito, G., Higgins, G., & Denney, A. (2014). Transactional and transformational leadership: An examination of the leadership challenge model. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 37 (4), 809-822.