Unlocking Potential: Embracing Transformational Leadership, By C&B’s Riya Vatnani
As my career progresses, my leadership skills are under the microscope. I did talk about the importance of emotional intelligence and the success it drives in today’s world but, much like the ever-changing mechanism of Twitter (What’s next, Musk?), there have been great strides on the regular on leadership tactics.
Here’s one I’ve been learning and practicing lately.
Transformational leadership; a style that focuses on inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential. Simply put, it is based on the idea that leaders can transform their teams by creating a shared vision and encouraging team members to work towards that vision.
At its core, transformational leadership begins by setting high expectations for team members, encouraging them to take risks, and providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. It allows me to take a step back and focus on building strong relationships with my team members, providing them with feedback and guidance, and creating an independent ecosystem.
Less dependence, more self-belief.
There are several key characteristics of transformational leadership that make it an effective leadership style:
- First and foremost, transformational leaders have a clear vision for the team
- Impactful communication skills – Communicating a sense of purpose and direction successfully so it aligns an employee’s individual goals with the goals of the organization
- Encouraging risks and creative stimulation to build confidence and competence
- Expressing empathy and understanding to create trust and collaboration
Transformational leadership is particularly effective in situations where teams are facing complex or difficult challenges or where there is a need for innovation and creativity. Through the successful adoption of these principles, leaders can create a positive and supportive work environment that fosters growth, development, and success.
Speaking of stress, who doesn’t have their fair share and more lately?
A team that is balancing pressure and a high-paced environment experiences error and are more likely to suffer from burnout.
Empowering a stressed-out team is a critical task for any leader, primarily to develop their resilience, reduce stress levels, and improve overall well-being. Here are some strategies for empowering such a team:
- Learn to listen: Listen to concerns, empathize, and offer support and encouragement. Through a two-way dialogue with the team, you can help to build trust and create a safe space for them to share their feelings and experiences.
- Set realistic expectations: Stressed-out teams often feel overwhelmed and burdened by unrealistic expectations. To empower them, set realistic goals and deadlines that are achievable. Provide them with the resources and support they need to meet these expectations, and encourage them to focus on progress rather than perfection.
- Delegate tasks: This can help build their skills and confidence. Be sure to provide adequate support and training to team members who are taking on new responsibilities.
- Provide opportunities for growth: Provide opportunities for growth and development, such as training programs, mentorship, or new projects. Encourage team members to pursue their interests and passions, and support them in their career goals.
Empowering a stressed-out team requires patience, empathy, and a willingness to listen and support.
By providing a positive work environment, setting realistic expectations, delegating tasks, offering flexibility, and providing opportunities for growth, you can help to build a resilient and empowered team that can overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Growing past the world of autocratic leadership styles to democratic and transformational is a mandate in the current “urgent deadline” world. In this space, you prioritise well-being and allow the teams to recharge and deflect the always-on approach we applied pre-pandemic.
We need creativity, decision-makers, solution-first mindsets and proactivity to beat the saturated market today. Try going transformational. It’s bound to produce leaders within the team you’re inspiring and isn’t that your true success story?