Question

What is the difference between transformational leadership and transactional leadership? Provide an example of a transformational leader and a transactional leader that you've interacted with in your life

Answer 1

Transformational leadership is a type of leadership where a person can inspire their followers towards making positive changes. Giving the inspiration to the team is the integral part of this type of leadership. This leadership is characterized by factors such as being energetic and showing passion. Such a leader can motivate the workforce and boost their morale and guide them towards fulfillment of goals.

Transactional leadership is often the opposite of transformational leadership. Such leaders thrive in organizations where there is a well defined structure and they can direct their followers to do what is required in order to achieve the results. This leadership type is more authoritative than the transformational type.

Now, having got a brief idea about these both types of leadership, let us move on and look at the differences between the two:

• One of the major differences is that a transformational leadership promotes creativity and team members the chance to lay down their ideas and bring about innovative solutions. However, this is absent in a transactional leadership as the leader directs the followers about what is to be done.
• Transformational leadership allows the team to fulfill the goals by boosting morale & enthusiasm and promoting creativity. However, transactional leadership uses a system of reward and punishment for the same. Hence, the team is bound to fulfill a goal due to the fear of punishment.
• A transformational leadership is proactive because they think ahead and analyze the situation and interact actively with the team at the same time. A transactional leadership in comparison, is reactive in the sense that they react to what comes their way. They take problems head-on.
• Also, in a transformational leadership, there is the possibility of having one or more leaders. In a transactional leadership there can only be one leader.
• A transformational leadership stimulates the group interest whereas a transactional leadership stimulates the self-interest of each member.

An example of a transformational leader that I have interacted with, has got to be my captain in the soccer team. She has all the attributes of a transformational leader and is always open to suggestions from all team members and boosts our morale and charisma. This makes us want to do better just because she is such an uplifting leader.

An example of a transactional leader is my mathematics professor. He matches all the characteristics of such leadership. Reward and punishment is his motivating factor of choice. However, his strict approach does make us get good results so this type of leadership should not be ignored.