Compare transformational and transactional leadership. Provide examples of each.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Student answers will vary but should demonstrate knowledge of the features of transformational and transactional leadership styles. Transformational leaders motivate people to transcend their personal interests for the sake of the larger community. They generate excitement and revitalize organizations. Transactional leaders view management as a series of transactions in which they use their legitimate, reward, and coercive powers to give commands and exchange rewards for services rendered. Unlike transformational leadership, transactional leadership is dispassionate; it does not excite, transform, empower, or inspire people to focus on the interests of the group or organization. Transactional approaches may be more effective for individualists than for collectivists.