“Management is about persuading people to do things they do not want to do, while leadership is about inspiring people to do things they never thought they could.” ~Steve Jobs
Transformational leaders inspire those they lead with a clear vision of what needs to be done to succeed and set an example for how to make it happen. They clarify the “what” and the “why” of the organization, and truly “Walk the talk” as a role model in the work that they do.
Transformational leaders exhibit idealized influence.
To influence people is to help them accept change. Great leaders do this by instilling pride, gaining trust, and providing a clear vision and sense of purpose for the work that people do.
But talking a big talk isn’t enough. In order for others to believe in a great leader, the leaders must adhere to high levels of ethical and moral conduct. They must truly embody the lessons, principles, and values they want to be part of the culture.
Steve Jobs is a well-known example. While not a perfect leader by any means, no one can doubt that he created a vision of perfection, high standards, and innovation that became the hallmark of Apple and drove it to success. He was a model of hard work and determination to improve, which was instilled into every employee. I’m not even an Apple product user, but I still admire and respect what Jobs did.
He became somewhat of an icon. A role model. An ideal to aspire to. And through his work, he transformed many of the people that worked with him.
How can you better embody the type of leader you aspire to be?
See more in the video below!
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