7 Traits Of True Transformational Leaders

Transformation is about change. Change in the way we think, act and perceive ourselves. It’s what happens when we hit rock bottom and start to climb up from there. Many people are attracted to that type of person who has undergone this transformation – someone with lots of potential for achieving greatness. However, not many people know how leaders go through a transformative process or even what defines them as one. 

In this blog post, you will learn seven traits that define true transformational leaders.

Let’s take a look at these seven traits.

1. You should be open to unknown

Trusting the unknown is something that many people do not have. When you are open to it, you can view things in a new light and hear different insights. When you trust the unknown, your mind will be able to wander more freely because there isn’t any pressure to arrive at conclusions or make decisions instantly based on what’s known already. 

Shutting down this process doesn’t help anyone because leaders need ideas from their team members to grow stronger together – no matter how weird they might seem initially.

2. Before putting together a team, you should have a vision

What do you want to accomplish? Your vision should be significant but not impossible. Transformational leaders are always thinking bigger than what is currently possible (and they’re willing to work for it) while also maintaining a realistic view of the future. The vision should be clear and concise. Everyone on the team must understand what you are trying to accomplish, so make sure your message is communicated. 

It’s also essential for a transformational leader to have charisma. Charisma can come in many forms – from being approachable and down-to-earth or instilling fear within people who need a little push toward greatness. A good leader knows how to leverage their strengths as well as those of their team members. They can find opportunities where each person excels instead of wasting time filling gaps with weak spots that weaken an entire company.

3. Find The Root Cause Of Problems

Not every problem can be solved with the same solution. Leaders looking for solutions that will solve problems quickly aren’t always solving for what is proper or best long-term; they may only be temporarily getting rid of a problem. True transformational leaders do not look to solve problems; instead, they find out why something happened and how it can change in the future.

4. You must encourage a “why not?” attitude

Encourage a “why not?” attitude. As humans, we are inherently motivated to make progress and improve ourselves; however, for this motivation to be successful, it needs the support of others around us—i.e., our peers need to encourage us. In other words: no one succeeds alone. True transformational leaders understand the importance of supporting their team members both with encouragement and feedback to continue developing themselves personally and professionally. They have an unrelenting work ethic.

5. You’ll need the appropriate soft skills

Transformational leaders need to be good communicators. They must inspire and motivate others toward a common goal or vision, which requires excellent communication skills beyond today’s managers’ typical business jargon. Transformational leaders will listen carefully to what their staff has to say because they value input from people lower down in an organization and those at the top level. 

People who are great team members do not hoard ideas but share them freely with colleagues whenever appropriate.

6. One should be aware of and respectful of technology

Technology is a versatile tool that can be utilized to increase one’s knowledge and abilities. Understanding the different functions, applications, etc., available with technology makes these devices more accessible for multiple reasons. It allows people to become more familiar with what they are using and how it works, which subsequently increases their ability to explore its potential in other areas. 

The ability to expand one’s learning experiences is a tremendous advantage that technology offers.

7. You need to form solid, reliable teams

Open communication about the mission and plans for achieving it; ask team members what they can contribute based on their strengths, experiences, and knowledge base. Listen carefully and wholeheartedly to feedback from your team: this is where you will learn new ways to make things better in future projects. Make sure that everyone clearly understands how each member contributes towards the success of the project/mission, consequences if specific tasks are not completed, etc. 

This way, people feel like valued parts of a bigger picture (rather than cogs), which encourages them to work even harder toward common goals because they know exactly why every little part matters so much – no one is left in the dark.

The Bottom Line

Leadership development is a journey that doesn’t end but begins. Since the traits of great leaders are both teachable and learnable, anyone can become an effective leader by developing these above-mentioned qualities over time through deliberate practice.