Assignment 2.

Transformational leadership

Transformational leadership involves the cooperation of the leader and the follower. Barker,
Lyons, and Khan (2013) state that in this mode, the leaders and their followers must bond
together so that both parties: people in the leadership roles and the followers that support the
growth through the process, develop a sense of being transformed. Based on this statement it
become apparent that in transformation the leader have to transform his or her followers, but the
leader himself has to be transformed before making an attempt to influence his follower to
accomplish more than what it is expected of them (ipid). Johannsen (2014) also state that
transformational leaders encourage that when you want to change others, first you need to
change yourself. On a broad sense, transformational leaders do not work only to reach a
common goal and to make sure that their leadership is a success. On the other hand it was also
about changing the actions and how each individual and a larger group sees things in a way
that is keeping them in the same square without any improvement, the same square that is
obviously tearing them apart rather than boosting them up for the better. Prior to the content,
this piece is a triple evaluation essay; it has three specific area of discussion. The first part will
discuss three traits of transformational leadership that are applied in the case study stated in the
article, the second will be an evaluation on how the scholars in the article demonstrate
transformational leadership and lastly, it will give a brief description of Kiribati’s local leaders
who tend to humanize the same theory.

To begin with, to be transformational one must lead the way. Most people were afraid to take
the risks of opting for something new to them. Being a transformational leader, you just have to
show them that there is no such thing as impossible, at the same time clear the road yourself so
your followers see for themselves and follow those footsteps. Leading by example while
displaying high level of ethical and moral conduct are some of the important paths a
transformational leader has to show for his followers. These components are also important as
they will become the standard of accountability for followers and for their behaviors as well
(Tracy, n.d). Northouse (2013) also include that exemplary leaders are like pioneers: they enjoy
trying new things and experimenting with those new things. In order to be transformational you
have to be brave to take the risks lies ahead your way. After you did your part, the inspired
people will follow your path. In many cases, most people are scared to opted for something that
is considered impossible for them, however with role model and the active assistance of that
experience individual, the load will be much more lighter to bear. At this end, lots of people will
change their perception about their own strength, to a standard being demonstrated by their
leaders.

Secondly, another related trait is inspire and motivates people. Trying new things is hard but the
worst case is when it comes to challenging the process. Every person had a desire. A
transformational leader understands how important is to motivation is. Nayab (2010) states that
motivating and inspiring people is very important as it will help them in revealing their
unrecognized desires. Culture and traditional norms on the other hand sometimes interfere with
those desires and keeping these desires to remain unrecognized. Under this trait, a
transformational individual tend to challenge the process. In this sense, cultures and traditional
norms are ignored in order to opt for the better. Once a role mode completes these, people will
be inspired and gain motivation to do the same thing. By far this will become an inspiration that
will allow people escaping the status quo trap. Apparently, once a person is inspired, they will
be motivated to opt for new things. Shortly, their perception will change, later on this will change
their attitude and performance. Nevertheless, these statements try to clarify that when a poor
believer or a lousy follower was inspired by their leader or their colleagues, in anyhow their
motivation will improve and so as their performance. This inspiration gave them the motivation
to try harder. As a consequence, they will ignore the cultural norms and other barriers that will
avoid them from getting what they desire. Scotty (2011) added to these statements by claiming
that inspired people are more open to new things that keep them update to new, better and
important things. In terms of progressing toward goal, inspired people tend to set inspired goals
that allow them to be more successful than those who are not inspired. As plainly discussed,
inspired and motivated people are likely to be changed.

Lastly is having the capacity of being creative and innovative. After challenging the process, the
successful person will be vulnerable to the open environment that is full of twist and turn. A
transformational leader have a great capacity of creativity and are said to be more successful in
the open environment. Creativity allows an individual to remain longer in the open competitive
world. According to Northouse (2013) … transformational leaders are like pioneers: they want to
experiment and try new things. This tell us that transformational leaders are open to what-ever
lies ahead their way and were effective in figuring out how they going to face that instance.
According to Stephan (2011) on one hand, a transformational leader holds the courage to strive
toward an issue rather than running from it. Running away from an issue attracts less people to
be inspired and will result in destroying trust and loyalty for the followers. On the second hand,
they have to be very fast and good in seeing options in a very tough situation. As an important
component in creativity, delegation and collective participation is very much necessary.
Delegation gives followers the meaning and worthiness of their existence. At this end, loyalty
and trust are built. Furthermore, it will have an effect with their self-esteem which could become
the stepping stone of being transformed theoretically. If an individual is said to be
transformational, his leadership qualities recognized the active collaboration and trust building
(Northouse, 2013).

Referring to the article this time, the three scholars are transformational for they display the
three traits. The following paragraph will elaborate more on how these three women
demonstrate the three traits.

The story of Joshi, Okami and Islabouli had proved that they are transformational simply
because they have become role models at their own country. The three scholars had modeled
the way for their fellow female population in a very tough community at a very complicated time,
where a female individual right to education is limited. Northouse (2013) stated that exemplary
leaders are capable of finding their voice and the way to express it to the same class of people
or others that can assist them. In a very simple way, these three women were very simple in
expressing their voice. They graduated from school defying the obstacles and became the first
women at their respective country. This attempt is something that will boost a number of peers
to do the exact attempt as they know they can because of these three women’s historical
attempt. At these instances, they were transformational.

Apart from that, Joshi, Okami and Islabouli demonstrated transformational traits in terms of
being creative. Okami for instance, after graduation she worked as a gynecology at one of the
main hospitals when she resigned when her assistance was refused by the Emperor. In order to
be transformational, when convicted to the same situation Okami is experiencing, an individual
do not have to be downhearted and quit their job. Instead, they have to look for other
alternatives that will help them continuing what they desire. Looking at the situation of Okami,
she believes that going for private practice is the best alternative to escape this obstacle. This
sense indicates that Okami was being creative in finding a way of carrying out her work
regardless of the discrimination being displayed upon her by the Emperor. Therefore, Okami
was transformational in this regard.

Finally, Joshi has been an inspirational motivator as well as being an intellectual stimulator. Her
attempt had been an inspiration and will absolutely motivate people. To recall upon the fact that
to be transformational in the area of inspirational motivator, you have to be capable of making
clear description of a clear future that will raise one’s imagination. This plainly depict that vision
is involved in inspiring and motivating people. Joshi is transformational not only because she
broken few of her custom norms and traditions and thus challenge the process. She overcomes
the caste and traditions, and a lack of money and connections to travel abroad for study. Apart
from that, she also had a vision that was very clear in her application letter. She envisioned that,
“the life of Indian women would be better once a female specialist take responsibility of their
problems in her area of specialty.” This is very clear when she wrote, “ …to render my poor
suffering country women the true medical aid…they need of which they would rather die than to
accept the hands of a male physician.” With this vision along with the determination and bravery
she display, there was no hesitation that she makes a transformational leader.

In the context of my country (Kiribati), there are a number of female runners for parliament that
are transformational for their peers. As reported by the UNDP Pacific Centre, Kiribati has a
small but increasing number of women running for place in the House of Assembly. Base on the
norms, women are less encouraged to be in the parliament. Furthermore, their attitude and
strength do not suit the social environment of Parliament. In some ways, most people view the
House of Assembly as a very tough place where tough representatives are more capable in
negotiating their issue more effectively. Simply, women are not that tough, and they might mess
up. With Hon.Tekarei Russell becoming the first woman successfully in the colony election in
the late 1970s. Lately back in 2003, Hon. Teima Onorio takes it to another level when she
served her first term of Vice President that year till 2007(UNDP Pacific Centre). The attempts
made by these two successful women had proved the norm wrong. In this sense, they display
that women are not that weak and vulnerable and had transform women in Kiribati. Later on, the
remaining desperate women started to see the arena as an open ground that also suits their
preference. And for that, it results in the constant increase in the number of women in every
election. For instance, the 2007 election had allowed three women to be members of the house
of parliament. By 2011, 12 women were running for election. Last year’s end up at 18
desperate women out of 113 nominees for election (Inter-Parliamentary Union). The connection
is based on the fact that women were motivated and inspired by the heroine individuals before
them. In that case, many women have in mind that, if Hon. Tekarei Russell and Hon.Teima
Onorio can do it, they can too. This shows, a change in mind is occurring where Hon. Tekarei
Russell and Hon. Teima Onorio becoming the force that drives that change.

In conclusion, transformational leadership involves partnership and team work. Being a

transformational leader does not only mean to be perfect in what you do so other people will
change their view about you. It was about altering things to a state that best suit your situation.
If you are successful in making that happen, then people will find their self in your favor. To be
that person, you just have to lead their way, inspire and motivate them at their hardest times
and if it seems that your problem as a team outrage your chances of getting what you desire,
understand those issues so one day you could use it for your advantage. Literally, a
transformational leader does not run away from his problems, he goes forward to those
problems and evolves with them. In a broader sense, these same issues can one day become
the only option left. By far, the three scholars: Joshi, Okami and Islabouli, they are
transformational because of their historical success. They despise the opposing force driven by
culture and traditional norms as well as common issues like discrimination. Apart from that, Hon.
Tekarei. Russell and Hon. Teima Onorio are technically the Okami and Joshi or Islabouli in my
country for they change the perception of the community toward women in some things that the
norms believe women are not good at.
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