Transformational Leadership

For the Record, An AACRAO Podcast

The world is facing many challenging situations that require strong leadership. Even if you aren’t in a “leadership position,” you can be a leader. Transformational leaders are those who empower and enable those around them to achieve their highest potential. In doing so, their teams thrive. In this episode, we hear from Bianca Thompson-Owen as she shares her thoughts and reflections on various leadership styles, how failure is a key to growth, and ways that transformational leaders bring out the best in their people.

Key Takeaways:

• Everyone in your organization has the capacity to be a leader. Yes, even you. Getting people to think of themselves as leaders and to recognize the ways that they are already leaders is an important part of being a transformational leader yourself.
• Transformational leaders empower others to empower themselves. They lead by example, are reflective, empathetic, and solution-oriented. They are change agents, and focused on bringing about meaningful change at their organizations.
• Transformational leadership is an ongoing process. There is not a “one and done” action that you can do and say “I’m a transformational leader.” It takes self-reflection, vulnerability, a willingness to be adaptable and flexible, and a willingness to change.