Leaders in private or government sectors are individuals who influence or inspire their subordinates to strive harder for the betterment of the organization.
They should possess pleasant qualities and apply effective leadership styles to make their employees feel comfortable. If motivated, they will work more effectively and efficiently.
However, there are leaders who do not serve as inspirations and motivators. They discourage and dismay their workers. Being boastful, autocratic, and inconsiderate are some of the reasons why their people distance themselves and go on their own ways. Those kinds of leaders are advocates of transactional leadership.
According to American dermatology expert Charlotte Louise Giltinane, transactional leadership is closely related to autocratic style in which leaders are defined as being closed-minded and power-oriented.
Based on my experiences, leaders have diverse treatment to their followers. Some leaders act like they are the best and perfect. They assume they know everything and reject others ideas. Leaders like them are annoying. They are not ideal and blessings. Personnel need supportive, open-minded, and humble leaders who will lead them towards successful and productive organizations.
In the working place or offices, one can notice the arrogance of some leaders. Observing some high ranking officials who are snobs infuriate me. They should be models of uprightness. Genuine smile must radiate on their faces to create positive vibrations. Moreover, a simple, warm, and cordial greeting or response like “hi” or “hello” can make someone feels accepted and comfortable.
I also noticed that even during seminars or trainings several of them assume that they are the highest or best persons. They talk arrogantly and want to dominate the event. Talking or speaking is not bad but it must be done with a good purpose. It is not only because one wants to impress people and brag of being influential.
In a seminar that I attended, there was a leader who really captured my attention. He talks sincerely and with humility, unlike the other who feels like she is the most intelligent and powerful. This person seems to exercise her authority or power maybe because of the influence of a mother who already retired but with a high position in a government agency.
Leaders who touch the heart of his staffs are great leaders. They exercise transformational leadership. It is a style in which leaders encourage, inspire and motivate employees to innovate and create change that will help grow and shape the future success of the company.
There’s a research in the Philippine Private Corporations that revealed that 97 percent of the respondents claimed that their leaders manifest transformational leadership style.
Psychological research from Amyes and Flyn indicates that effective leaders also know how to strike a balance between assertiveness and friendliness with team members. By maintaining a mid-level assertiveness, leaders maximize social relationship to produce important outcomes, and, in turn, were not seen as either impotent or socially insufferable.
I can’t forget my former and retired principal Romulo M. Flora. His humbleness and being considerate and friendly made everyone admire, respect, and love him. He does not compete with his underlings. Instead, he pushed and helped them to become outstanding workers.
The world will be a nicer place to live in if simplicity and meekness reign. One should not think that he is superior to others. Everyone has a role to portray. Thus, all is equal and beneficial to the success of an organization.
October 2, 2023
