Transformational Leadership: A Christian Perspective
Leadership is about more than responsibility, guidance, or directing employees. Leadership is another opportunity to let your faith show as you care for, support, and—yes—lead your employees.
What is Transformational Leadership?
Transformational leadership is a leadership style that focuses on inspiring change and collaboration among your employees. It emphasizes empowering collaboration within your staff, giving them the courage and initiative to make decisions, be innovative, and take pride in what they do.
Other leadership styles, such as servant leadership or benevolent leadership, have slightly different goals. Servant leadership focuses on serving your employees, while benevolent leadership focuses on creating good for your employees. Each style aims to lead and empower employees well, but each focuses on different skills for leadership.
Leadership and Transformation
Researcher Bernard Bass created a leadership theory now known as “Bass’ Transformational Leadership Theory.” In this theory, he suggests that there are four effective leadership qualities for transformational leaders:
- Intellectual stimulation
- Individualized consideration
- Inspirational motivation
- Idealized influence
What does that even mean? Let’s break it down.
Intellectual Stimulation: Be Creative
Transformational leaders know they don’t have all the answers. When problems or challenges occur, they trust their employees to be creative and find new solutions.
This is not a blind trust, hoping that something works out in the end. Before a problem or challenge occurs, transformational leaders work with their employees to make sure that:
- They’re in a role that suits them best.
- They have the training to be an expert at what they do.
- They’re confident in their tasks and responsibilities.
During the daily routine of the workplace, transformational leaders build their employees up. When the big challenges come, employees are confident, prepared, and can successfully and creatively come up with solutions.
Individualized Consideration: People First
In Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV), as the Pharisees and Sadducees were testing Him, Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
These two commandments are cornerstones of transformational leadership as well.
As Christians, the command is simple: Love God and love His people. As transformational leaders, it’s also simple: people first, employees second.
Good leaders get to know the people working underneath them. They care about how their employee is doing at work and outside of work. Their employees know they can take ideas, thoughts, concerns, challenges, and more to their boss without worry or fear.
Inspirational Motivation: Visionary Leaders
In any business or organization, there must be visions or goals. Without having something to work towards, employees—and even leaders—find themselves in a stalemate, struggling to figure out how to move forward.
Transformational leaders know the vision they’re working towards. But more than that, they know how to give the vision to their employees. They don’t just want to lead someone towards a goal—they want their employees to get excited about it and make it their own goal.
An employee who catches sight of the vision will feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for achieving goals and will be more passionate about their job. When the goals are achieved, that employee will feel a sense of accomplishment.
Idealized Influence: Leading by Example
Transformational leaders embody the values and ethics they wish to instill in their employees. They lead by example, demonstrating integrity, humility, and a commitment to excellence. This influence inspires employees to adopt these same values and strive for excellence in their own roles.
Conclusion
Transformational Leadership is not just a leadership style; it’s a way of life that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ. By leading with love, casting a compelling vision, empowering others, building strong relationships, and fostering innovation, we can inspire and transform the lives of those around us. Let us strive to be transformational leaders who make a lasting impact for God’s Kingdom.