“Transformational leadership occurs when one or more persons engage with others in such a way that leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality.”
- James MacGregor Burns
- James MacGregor Burns
In the article, “The Themes and Theory of Leadership: James MacGregor Burns and the Philosophy of Leadership” by Matthew R. Fairhol it states that “A professor of management once told a friend, that if he comes upon an article on leadership and notices the bibliography does not include Leadership by James MacGregor Burns (1978), he dismisses it as unthoughtful and incomplete.” James MacGregor Burns was born in 1918 and has since become a well known figure for those who study theories of management and transformational leadership. He has won many awards for his innovation in leadership theory. Burns theory shifts away from studying the traits of leaders to focus on the interaction of leaders. His theory is based upon the interpersonal relationships that a leader must form with his/her followers in order to achieve a mutual benefit. Burns’ theory of transformational leadership creates a clear distinction between the concepts and functions of leadership versus management. Based on their values and morals a leader should be able to connect and engage their follower in order to achieve a higher sense of performance, fulfillment, and purpose for both parties. His theory can be applied to virtually any institution whether it be a political, corporate, social, family, or volunteer group.
I chose the Karate Kid trailer to illustrate an example of transformational leadership. The two main characters in this film create a relationship in order to accomplish a common goal. The leader in this example has a strong moral compass and stands strong in his values. He is able to connect with the young follower in order to motivate him to become a much more confident and strong individual.
Hi Krystal. Although I've never seen this movie, I think it's a good example because you can see the transformation behavior seen in the character played by Jaden Smith. Both characters were working towards a goal, which is accomplished at the end of the movie.
ReplyDeleteKrystal, first off, I'd like to compliment you on how great you described the relationship between the two characters in the Karate Kid. Not only does the word "transformation" come to mind when picturing the physical and mental development that the "kid" endured, but the relationship between both characters was truly inspiring and motivating. I think these two simple facts bring to light just how great of an example this clip is for transformational leadership.
ReplyDelete-Kayla Zacher