Leadership Guide Transformational Leadership and Emotionally Intelligent

Leadership Guide

Transformational Leadership and Emotionally Intelligent Leader

Organizations are established with on-going concern to earn profits, generate economic activity and satisfy the needs of the people. Few people join hands to establish an organization and mange the resources which may belong to all of them and they pool them together to achieve their desired goals. The goals differ from organization to organization and it is also possible that the goals of an organization do not align with the goals of the individuals who form the organization. In order to resolve the conflict, the founding team members come to an agreement whereby they focus on organizational goals in a manner that support their personal goals as well.

The founding members need the services of many other stakeholders to run their organizational effectively. The most important stakeholders are the employees who are directly involved in the affairs of the organization and shape its destiny. Like those of management team members, the employees also have their personal goals which mayor may not be in harmony with the organizational goals. The management team members require the employees to synergise their efforts and boost organizational performance linking it indirectly with their personal development and well-being as well.

In no case, the organization can intrinsically motivate the employees to stay loyal and committed to the organization. The only solution to this potential conflict is transformational leadership. The management team members hire leaders to lead the people towards the destination which is decided by the management team. They do not want to force the employees to protect the interest of organization when it comes in direct conflict with their personal interest. It is solely the role of a leader whom people love to follow and he gives them the direction which they pursue even without questioning or objecting him.

The perfect mix of task orientation and people orientation give the leader transformational power which not only helps him to mould the behaviour of his followers but also their attitude and values. This is the most powerful type of leadership and the followers are ready to give away anything upon the call of their leader.

After describing transformational leadership, the paper will proceed with examples of two transformational leaders; Abraham Lincoln and Herb Kelleher. These two leaders belong to different walks of life but their leadership style was common which helped them achieve their goals successfully. These two are cited in this paper to give an idea about the applicability of leadership style in various spheres of life. However, since the leadership is taught under the domain of management literature and organizational perceptive, it is important to quote an example from the industrial setting as well.

Described below are the characteristics of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of USA and Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines.

Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President of United States of America

Abraham Lincoln was born in humble surroundings in 1809 and he lost his mother in early years of his life. It was the biggest shock a child could bear at tender age. His father remarried and the second mother was kind enough to support him in his studies. Abraham Lincoln used to do farming and cut trees with his father, while his leisure time was dedicated to studies. His hard word paid him in good faith and he became a lawyer in the United States. It was a success for a boy brought up in humble surroundings to become a renowned lawyer in USA. But his zeal and zest for achievement and concern for his people did not let him stop there.

Abraham Lincoln was not happy with the tradition of slavery in USA. He was highly depressed about the miserable condition of the slaves he came across in his area. He started struggle for their rights as free citizen and this endeavour led him to emerge as transformational leadership. His voice was the voice of uncountable slaves in USA who had been spending a miserable life and waiting for the leader for the last many centuries. Abraham Lincoln was a pride for them who strived for them and their support to him paved ways for unprecedented success for him. He approached the highest political platforms in USA for protection of slaves. Finally, he himself participated in politics and the unending fame and love among the people he was leading, took him to the post of President of United States of America.

The success of Abraham Lincoln was the success of millions of people who had supported him to end slavery. They were uncountable slaves, there were many reformers and other lawyers who joined the noble cause and turned the tables in USA. Abraham Lincoln passed away in 1865, but he will always remain alive in the hearts of all the generations of those who were set free because of movement led by Abraham Lincoln.

Herb Kelleher (Co-founder of Southwest Airlines, The Chairman and The Former CEO)

Herb Kelleher is the transformational leader of present era. He was born in 1931 and still enjoying the springs of his life. Having passion for Law and Business studies, Herb Kelleher had a vision to serve the nation in a different manner. His vision led him closely analyse various aspects of business industry and he pursued the establishment of an airline which targeted its success on the weaknesses of other airlines. He offered lost cost by eliminating the unnecessary and luxurious services in the air travel. He designed the flight schedule in such a way that his flights were not the cause of burden on other airports, the passengers were transported to their destinations directly and no transit was made just to increase traffic.

The simple approach followed by Herb Kelleher was much appreciated not only by the passengers but the service providers as well. The airport authorities were willing to give it operating slot, the passengers preferred to fly Southwest Airlines and the financers gladly offered their capital in it. The situation posed serious threats to the competitors and the corporate rivalry started. He accepted every challenge and his collaboration with law associates led him settle down every issue smoothly.

The competition put Southwest Airline in trouble and Herb Kelleher had to make the decision of cost saving, he had two options; layoff few employees or sell an aircraft. It was a historical decision made by Herb Kelleher that he retained the employees and sold the aircraft. The high level of consideration for the employees led him win the loyalty and commitment of his staff members who had never seen such a friendly boss. Through their dedicated efforts, the airline became the fifth largest airline of USA and recorded profits for consecutive 24 years.

Herb Kelleher had a jolly personality which helped him face the challenges in a light manner. He inculcated the same approach in his business culture. The employees were taught to stay firm but light-hearted. Their vision was to serve the organization in the best possible way as the organization had not given them any stress. An example of light styles adopted by Southwest Airlines lies in the fact that the flight announcement resembled to a song tone and the listeners enjoyed it. Another instance is the wresting competition with an aviation competitor who had a conflict of using the same tag line as Southwest Airlines. The idea of wrestling was presented by Herb Kelleher and he lost the competition as well, but the way he addressed this problem led him win the heart of competitor CEO and he willingly offered Herb Kelleher to continue with the disputed tagline.