A quick search on leadership skills will show you a very obvious truth – there’s more than one way to lead. Leaders come in different shapes, temperaments, and most importantly, styles. And there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all leadership style that works for everybody. We all have our different personalities and priorities.

But I believe there’s one leadership style that is definitely a cut above the rest when it comes to achieving success, and that’s the style I employ in my workplace – transformational leadership.

In a nutshell, it’s a leadership style where everything about a leader – behaviour, attitude, and personality – encourages the transformation and empowerment of others. Transformational leaders want everyone to think about the big picture, and stay motivated and engaged in working towards the group’s goals. For them, success isn’t just measured in profit or KPIs, but in turning every follower into a leader themselves.

So, what makes a good transformational leader? And how can you utilise this leadership style to lead your team to success?

Transformational Leaders Are Role Models

Transformational leaders recognise that all change begins internally. To them, the biggest asset to any group is mobility and fluidity, and this is why every single piece needs to run smoothly and often, independently. To allow this to happen, each member in the team has to be allowed to leverage their strengths and be given room to develop.

Positive change begins with the leaders themselves. Transformational leaders believe that a person’s attitude and values affect how they treat people and how they perform, and this in turn influences the energy they emanate and the environment they hope to build in the workplace. For these kinds of leaders, their vision and energy need to be internalised for the team to externalise.

Probably the best example of a transformational leader being a role model is Apple Founder Steve Jobs. He was practically synonymous with Apple, exuding all the qualities that he wanted to see in his brand.

Jobs communicated his biggest ideas in creative ways, using different publicity stunts when introducing new Apple products. He presented himself as an energetic and open person, always willing to let the media in on what Apple was planning. Jobs also always dressed the same, and kept a very simple appearance. And these very values of creativity, user-friendliness, and simplicity are things that have allowed Apple to maintain its reputation as one of the most beloved brands in the world.

Apple continues to be guided by Steve Jobs’ vision and legacy, and that’s how you know that his transformational leadership has really set the tone and direction in which the team and brand  continue to grow.

Transformational Leaders Inspire Creativity

Transformational leaders do not micromanage. For some, this might seem like a red flag. After all, how can you make sure everything’s running smoothly if you don’t look after your team.

But think about it – I’m sure as kids, we’ve all hidden stuff from our parents in fear of getting scolded and  didn’t believe some of those things warranted punishment. Transformational leaders go beyond fear and threats, and instead value trust and independence.

Employees work best when they feel they are imperative to a company’s success. This allows them to get on the same page, and be guided by the same values. That’s why it’s important that employees are given the freedom to make their own decisions, and find their own ways out of sticky situations. Transformational leaders believe employees shouldn’t be spoon-fed, or have to go through menial rounds of approval just to get a task done.

We can see this example in sports through Steve Kerr, current head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Kerr, who has won three NBA championships with the Warriors, has always believed in the principle of letting his players shine on their own merits. Even when Warriors star Stephen Curry has a bad game, Kerr always encourages Curry to keep shooting and doing what he does best. And you better believe Curry wouldn’t have his two MVPs and three championships without Kerr telling him to get creative, and play to his strengths.

Transformational Leaders Are Emotional Leaders

No, this doesn’t mean you should cry in front of your employees (though there’s nothing wrong with shedding some tears every now and then).

All this means is that transformational leaders are emotionally intelligent. Such leaders don’t just work within the plane of logic and profit, but also leverage emotion and communication.

Face it, negative emotions can often be a hindrance to success. This, however, doesn’t mean you should suppress them in your employees. In fact, the opposite is true. You need to be able to process your team’s emotions, and figure out how to solve these kinds of problems.

A good leader is one who can respect their employees as people, too. This involves communication, encouragement, and a culture of support and growth. Contrary to what a lot of older leaders might tell you, this doesn’t make transformational leaders “snowflakes” or “entitled,” it just means that they can treat their employees with empathy and respect.

One CEO who embodies this quality of transformational leadership is AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes. It’s well-documented how he makes the effort to listen to crew members, and gather feedback. It’s this open line of honest communication that allows employees to feel welcome, heard and valued, and it’s increased AirAsia’s performance, helping it to become one of the best low-cost airlines in the world.

People feeling valued has always shown to improve company performance. And as a transformational leader, you need to remember that your employees are people too, if you want them to be so much more.

To your success,

Mario

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