As the writer Tom Peters said, “Great leaders do not create followers, they create more leaders.”
To be the best leader you can possibly be, you need to do more than just make decisions and allocate tasks. You need to be able to inspire positive change in the people and organisations around you. The key to success is having a clear vision of the future and having the confidence to disrupt the status quo to pursue innovation and growth.
This leadership style is known as transformational leadership and has the power to revolutionise the way an organisation is run. This article will explain the five key steps to becoming a transformational leader.
1. Encourage the pursuit of personal and professional growth.
Fostering a culture of continuous learning is a great way to inspire your team and maximise their potential. Providing opportunities for personal and professional growth shows that you value the development of others and are genuinely invested in their journey.
You could provide training, mentoring, team-building days or even volunteer days. Whatever you choose to do, so long as it gives your team a chance to learn new skills, it will demonstrate excellent leadership and benefit your organisation.
2. Instill a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Give your employees the freedom to take responsibility and make their own decisions. This allows emerging leaders to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, making them more valuable to the company.
Providing a safe environment for employees to make mistakes shows great leadership and empowers those around you to perform to the best of their abilities.
3. Embody the values of your company.
It may sound obvious, but leading by example is one of the best ways to motivate your team and drive success. Leaders should be role models for their employees and set standards for others to emulate.
Showing a commitment to integrity, respect and excellence will inspire others to uphold these values and elevate their own performance in the workplace.
4. Always give constructive feedback.
Recognising the power of constructive feedback as a business leader is essential. Guiding and supporting your team members to realise their full potential is crucial to being a great transformational leader.
It’s important to be candid and communicate effectively when an employee makes a mistake or needs to improve. But, it’s equally important to acknowledge and celebrate your team’s successes as this can boost morale and reinforce good practices.
5. Create opportunities for emerging leaders.
Finally, the most crucial step in becoming a transformational leader is creating opportunities for emerging leaders. Recognizing and even encouraging leadership qualities is all well and good, but you also need to provide practical experience.
Whether for small projects or large company-wide initiatives, practical leadership experience will give those around you the confidence to push themselves and evolve into stronger employees.
Transformational leadership is not just about leading; it’s about creating a sustainable ecosystem where leadership thrives at every level. Embracing the principle of transformative leadership can cause a ripple effect of positive change. Who knows, perhaps you could even inspire the next generation of leaders straight from within your organisation.
To learn more about becoming a transformational leader, check out our mentorship, business coaching, and consultancy services.
