A transformational leader is one who encourages others to find ways to grow

and change.

In education, this leadership style helps educators, from teachers and

administrators to counselors and coaches, motivate each other to improve and
innovate within their classrooms.

It can even help educators find solutions to conflicts within their educational
organizations.

We discuss the many applications and rewards of transformational leadership

in education below.

What Is Transformational Leadership?

Traditionally, managers simply ask employees to complete assigned duties and
expect compliance. A transformational leader, though, pushes team members
to get creative.

Transformational leadership became popular in the 1970s and 1980s,

following the publication of James MacGregor Burns’s Leadership. The book,
according to Sage Publishing, “is still considered the seminal work in the field
of leadership studies. [Burns’s] theory of transactional and transformational
leadership has been the basis of more than 400 doctoral dissertations.”

In any field, transformational leadership helps teams improve their

performance. Here are some specific advantages of this leadership style in
education.

Encourages Differences

Consider the following situation. An elementary school hires three math

teachers. Each instructor uses the same lesson plans and curriculum. But each
of them is different in an important way: each holds valuable knowledge and a
perspective about the world that’s unique to them. One was a statistician at a
top government agency before deciding they wanted to help students
understand math. Another recently worked with underprivileged children in
the Peace Corps. And the third was an actor and performer before deciding to
become a teacher.
A transformational leader wouldn’t ignore these new math teachers’ diverse
skills and abilities. Instead, a transformational leader would encourage these
new instructors to share their unique insights. This leader might encourage the
former statistician to find engaging ways to teach statistics. They would
motivate the Peace Corps volunteer to share their experiences abroad. They
would ask the actor/performer to use their creative skills in the classroom.

Any organization is made up of a diverse group of individuals. Some of these

individuals may follow unique religious or cultural customs. Others may have
valuable skill sets and professional experiences. An organization that embraces
differences enables staff members to use their diversity to the benefit of all.
This also includes parents and families, who can benefit from the unique
education their child is receiving. This approach lends itself to education as
well as to the corporate world.

Fosters Participation in School Decisions

How does transformational leadership affect decision making in schools?

Suppose a superintendent is considering adjusting the start time for middle
schools. They have heard that starting school 30 minutes later leads to better
educational outcomes for middle schoolers, and wants to try this in their
district. The superintendent could simply make this decision without any
teacher input. Instead, they hold a forum on the topic within the school district
so educators, parents, and other family members can share thoughts.

The superintendent is showing transformational leadership by encouraging

individuals to participate. Participants appreciate that their concerns are being
heard and acknowledged and are willing to contribute their ideas.

Emphasizes Morals, Communication, and Authenticity

Over the front entrance of a high school hangs a banner that reads, “Speak
your mind. Be part of the school community.” But educators and students at
the high school, as well as students’ families, don’t believe the banner actually
reflects their school’s real attitude toward speaking out.

How would a transformational leader change this view? The leader could use
traditional methods to encourage educators, parents, and students to share
their feedback. But these traditional methods might not work in actual
practice.
For example, the school could create a suggestion box where students,
parents, and educators share their thoughts and concerns. But the suggestions
might never be addressed, or even collected, by school leadership. Another
traditional method is asking educators directly about their concerns. In this
case, educators may mention specific problems—for example, the period
between classes is too short to give them enough time to prepare for the next
class. But when educators point out the problems they see, leaders often don’t
follow through with solutions.

Whether suggestions come in the form of anonymous notes in a suggestion

box or directly from polling educators about their concerns, administrators at
high schools like this one often fail to address the complaints raised.

Suppose the high school used transformational leadership. Transformational

leaders would understand the importance of authenticity and practicing what
they preach. Encouraging, listening to, and responding to feedback shows the
school cares about the concerns of teachers and students. Also, it
communicates the message that the school has strong morals, such as
trustworthiness and respect, and sticks to them.

Allows Students to Make their Own Decisions and Have Autonomy

Here’s another case illustrating transformational leadership in education. In

this scenario, two science instructors are teaching physics and engineering
basics. Each has assigned the same activity— students build toothpick towers
and notice the results. The first instructor gives students an extensive set of
guidelines for completing the class project, such as how many toothpicks they
can use. Their students follow the guidelines and achieve the expected results.
The other teacher encourages students to find new approaches to the project
on their own. Their students experiment with alternative materials and find
innovative ways to design and build their toothpick towers This is possible
simply because they, a transformational leader, allowed students the freedom
to make their own decisions.

Teachers can’t always give students choices in the classroom or grant them a
voice in every aspect of their educational experience. But when they get an
opportunity to give students autonomy, it allows both educators and students
to thrive.
Transformational Leadership in Education
Educators can choose between two leadership styles: transmissional or
transformational. A transmissional instructor focuses on conveying information
to students, without inviting their participation. A transformational leader, on
the other hand, finds ways for students to share their viewpoints. This open
communication then improves student understanding.

Educators who are transformational leaders get positive results, including

higher student engagement with their course material and other school
pursuits. “Subordinates of transformational leaders have less role conflict,
higher task performance, and higher satisfaction with a task than subordinates
with non-transformational leaders,” according to an article published in
the Journal of Instructional Psychology.

For example, suppose a history instructor wants to teach a lesson about the
2019 protests in Hong Kong. They encourage their students to participate in a
classroom discussion regarding the protestors, how the United States should
help or respond, and if actions by the Hong Kong government are justified. The
lively discussion sparks student engagement. And their engaged students end
up doing better on their assignments and showing a deeper understanding of
current events in context.

This type of leadership can also positively impact parents of students. For
example, an educator may be concerned that the Hong Kong protests are too
divisive of a subject to cover in class. That educator could reach out to parents
and families to gauge their thoughts on how the topic should be covered.

A component of transformational leadership is celebrating the unique

elements that make individuals different. Suppose an elementary school
teacher plans a lesson on the holiday Diwali, which is celebrated by Hindus as
well as members of other faiths. Merely explaining the customs of Diwali could
lead to low participation or engagement. But if a student in the class celebrates
this holiday, a transformational leader will encourage that student to share
their personal experiences with the holiday. Again, students are engaged and
end up doing better work and understanding more as a result.