ABSTRACT
Leadership is a process that involves influence and the art of directing people within an organization to achieve a clearly defined set of goals and outcomes. Successful leaders know what they want to accomplish in terms of organizational goals and outcomes. One of the central arguments in this chapter is that leadership is not a stand-alone act, but rather an ongoing relationship between those who purport to lead and those who follow.
Transformational LeadershipTransformational leadership raises the dynamics of organizational performance to a whole new level. A transformational leader can be described as someone who motivates a group of people to accomplish something with a clear sense of vision and purpose. History is filled with examples of transformational leaders, including, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela to name only a few. At the same time, transformational leadership is not strictly the province of social activists, politicians and artists. As Marc Benioff, CEO for Sales Force writes, “Business is the greatest platform for change.”
In this chapter, we consider six important characteristics that help to explain what it takes to be an effective leader. They include:
Vision
Effective Communication
Alignment
Trust and Integrity
Creating a Culture of Innovation
A Willingness to Take Risks
Author Malcolm Gladwell makes the argument that every great innovation needs a chief spokesperson and advocate. He describes such individuals as Mavens, Salesmen and Connectors. They become the champion for the new product concept. Part of that effort involves making the right connections with various designers, marketers and outside investors who will help to advance a successful product launch.