Transformational Leadership

Transformational Leadership

University of Phoenix

Abstract

This transformational leadership plan was written to enable the leader to empower, inspire, and motivate her employees and to provide clients with the best services possible while enhancing the organization's growth, recognition, and success. This plan will serve also as the document that the researcher will refer to for direction, and for monitoring progress. Additionally, this plan will state the way the leader and followers will operate by defining the methods for attaining the goals set forth in this plan.

One of the greatest responsibilities bequeathed upon XXXXXX was to lead effectively her team of employees in the service of others and to accomplish the organization's mission. In order for Mrs. XXXXX to be an effectual leader, she must organize all projects, and inform and involve her employees in the process through which she plans to accomplish her transformational plan. As a transformational leader, one must recognize the importance of striving always to provide the highest standard of professionalism. Planning and having a written leadership plan allows for specification of goals and improvement as the implementation goes forward. According to Bennis and Goldsmith (2003, pg 132), "Leadership means not only having a dream but claiming that dream and the role you want to play in it." The researcher's dream is to empower the lives of the disadvantaged, this dream has been claimed and Ms. XXXXX's role is to master being a transformational leader with a "tool box" of other leadership styles. This personal transformational leadership development plan is the beginning of the dream. This plan takes into consideration the importance of providing those needing assistance with life- altering tools for positive change and not just serve as a program band-aid. Program band-aids come in the form of check, food stamps, and short-term housing; these programs do not address the individual's long-term needs.

Personal Mission Statement

The researcher believes that God saved her life a few years ago because He has a purpose for her life. She believes the purpose is to use her core competencies, which are integrity, approachability, being inspirational, motivational, compassion, honesty, and respect for others to be an inspiration to others. She also encourages them to be the best that they can be while recognizing that there is a power greater than we all are who is able to do exceeding good things for those who acknowledge Him. The researcher's mission is to transform the lives of her employees and everyone she meets, especially those disadvantaged individuals who require the services that are provided daily. These services are designed to bring relief to the disadvantaged by linking them with the services that they are in need of at the time of their request.

Leadership Values

The researcher's most notable values are people, integrity, service, excellence, and most of all empowering others to become more productive members of society.

Leadership Goals

The researcher's current position with a nonprofit organization allows her to be transformational in the lives of both her employees and clients. Recognizing that poverty is pervasive across people of all ages, races, religions, and backgrounds is one of the first steps to becoming a willing participant in empowering the disadvantaged. There will be personal assessment, preparation, listing of goals, verbalization of vision, proceeding with plan, communicating the plan and monitoring of progress of the leadership plan. These goals are designed to transform employees and clients. The researcher recognizes the importance of families especially the ones that urgently need rebuilding because of adversity. The leader is in a unique position where she plays a major role in bringing about the required change for both employees and clients. An improved work environment fosters forward "we" thinking collaborative individuals who want to be a part of the process to change the lives of our clients as well as their own lives.

Overview of Plan

The plan includes four areas, personal transformational development, securing funding for upgrading current program, increase the number of individuals benefiting from the free services that the organization provides and employee training and recognition. In addition, this plan will recommend that other department leaders develop transformational leadership plans for themselves and their respective departments. When employees are empowered to be the best that they can be their self-worth is greatly increased. The organization will benefit from these changes and so will the leader. As part of the leader's personal development, she will complete the doctorate of organizational management degree and use the information learned to be a better leader and improve the organization. The leadership theories that support this plan are transformational, participative and contingent to a lesser extents. After completing an online leadership style quiz and conducting an in office survey, the researcher found that these styles were identified as the models she used most. In addition, the survey revealed that both employees and upper management felt that the leader's style was effective and the followers expressed that they liked the leader's style and wished that more leaders were transformational and participative like her. When employees are acknowledged and inspired, they are more receptive to the leader's approach of leadership, and this results in innovative change becoming less challenging.

Among Mrs. XXXXX's leadership strengths are her emotional intelligence, ability to lead by example, to be calm under pressure, to motivate others, to facilitate the advancement of others, and inspire others to be productive beyond what is required of them. These strengths are along the lines of Bass' (1990) findings on transformational leadership that states, transformational leaders are a source of inspiration to their followers and encourages them to come together to achieve the leaders vision. Another strength that this leader possesses is her ability to see that her employees morale remains high through providing skill training, other forms of intellectual stimulation and viewing each employee on an individual basis and by being respectful and trust worthy.