Redefining Change: The Transformational Leadership Approach
Lesallan | March 25, 2025
Transformational leadership plays a critical role during organizational change by inspiring and engaging employees in ways that contrast markedly with the conventional, transactional approach. As Maxwell (2015) asserts, “leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them,” emphasizing that effective change requires strategic oversight and relational closeness. In transformational leadership, the leader cultivates an environment where the vision for the future is shared, and everyone’s contribution is recognized as vital to achieving that vision. The Bible echoes this principle in Proverbs 29:18, which states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (King James Bible, 1769/2017).
Transactional leadership, by contrast, is grounded in a system of rewards and penalties based on performance, focusing on short-term objectives and clearly defined roles (Burke, 2023; Simple Academics, 2018). The key difference between these two approaches lies in their orientation: transformational leadership is inherently forward-thinking and relational, gearing employees toward internalizing the vision and pursuing innovative solutions, while transactional leadership tends to reinforce current norms by exchanging clear rewards for specific performance outcomes. The shared commitment of both leadership styles to organizational effectiveness mirrors the sentiment in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow” (King James Bible, 1769/2017).
I experienced the impact of transformational leadership firsthand during a digital transformation initiative in a mid-sized technology firm. During this change process, leaders adopted a transformational style by engaging team members in open dialogue, recognizing each person’s unique strengths, and aligning these strengths with the strategic objectives of the digital overhaul. This approach mitigated resistance, as employees felt that their contributions were recognized and essential to the organization’s future success. The leaders’ ability to communicate a compelling vision helped shift the organizational mindset from viewing the change as a series of disruptive tasks to embracing it as an opportunity for personal and professional growth. This aligns with the biblical principle found in Philippians 2:3-4: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (King James Bible, 1769/2017).
In summary, transformational leadership redefines organizational change by leveraging vision, empathy, and initiative-taking engagement to produce substantial and sustainable outcomes. By inspiring employees to transcend traditional limitations and actively redefine their roles, transformational leaders create an environment in which change becomes manageable and a catalyst for continuous improvement. As the Bible teaches in Isaiah 43:19, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (King James Bible, 1769/2017). As organizations increasingly navigate complex challenges in an evolving global market, the principles of transformational leadership, informed by timeless wisdom, remain indispensable for driving effective and enduring change.
Lesallan | March 25, 2025
References:
Burke, W. W. (2023). Organization change: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Church, U. (2022). Transformational leadership – John C. Maxwell [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dw5PVYvCsI
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769).
Maxwell, J. C. (2015, May 6). John C. Maxwell: 10 actions to help your team accept change. SUCCESS. https://www.success.com/john-c-maxwell-10-actions-to-help-your-team-accept-change/
Maxwell Leadership. (2014, April 8). Transformational leadership: A minute with John Maxwell, free coaching video [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjR9lC9FaB0
Mavin. (2015, January 15). What is organizational change? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xsPLr-q_Nk
Simple Academics. (2018). How to be a transformational leader (ANIMATED) | What is transformational leadership? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u8_ctKso0Y
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