A Review of Transformational and Charismatic Leadership Styles

Abstract

Although effective people are social beings like others, they have a foresight like none other. The difference between them and ineffective leader is their paradigm shift in ideology as well as the vision that drives them and how they insist on others needing a change in practices and principles to address current social or physical challenges. Irrespective of the geo-political space in which they reside, effective leaders are servants to their inner vision, slaves to their desire to see a change in the old paradigm, influence others into seeing the need to change the old paradigm, interpret from a different foresight from their counterparts, and chart a path that has never been navigated before, change.The issue of charismatic leadership should not be construed as all positions as the previous perspective may be taken too far and become a consequence for the follower (i.e., the negative side of charisma). Yukl aptly explains this, "Charismatic leaders tend to make more risky decisions that can result in serious failure, and they tend to make more determined enemies who will use such a failure as an opportunity to remove the leader from office" (p. 259).The transformational leader appeases the psychological consciousness of the follower; whereas the transactional leader offers a tangible product for the engagement of the follower. Simply put, the transformational leader employs moral suasion and the transaction leader uses physical products in exchange for followership. It is easy to understand how transformational leaders must be trustworthy, highly admired, loyal and respected by their followers.