Transformational Leadership Case Study Examples

This paper summarizes the article written by Cam Caldwell, Rolf D. Dixon, Larry A. Floyd, Joe Chaudoin, Johnathan Post, and Gaynor Cheokas regarding the need for a new type of leadership in today’s social work environment, defined as Transformative leadership. The article itself varies in the definition, however in a broad sense Transformative leadership is maintaining good moral standing and sound business ethics among employees and individuals inside and outside the workplace. However, in order to reach this theoretical level of business related moral and ethical leadership known as

Transformational leadership has been successful in the health care industry due to the visionary approach and adaptability when faced with obstacles. Transformational leaders succeed

Connie Clerici is a registered nurse who started out as a critical care nurse that specialized in pediatrics and the intensive care unit. Clerici left the hospital setting looking for a new career path, and was asked to help relocate children from The Christopher Robin Home for the Children, which was being closed for euthanasia allegations (Cavanaugh, 2012). So, her new role required her to help place children into a safe community setting which accommodated and cared for the children’s complex health needs. Clerici was also responsible for purchasing nursing services and in her opinion found below average nursing care (Cavanaugh, 2012). Throughout this time Clerici believed that she could be doing more for these children and after three

The key to the success of a healthcare organization is defined by the many qualities and attributes its leaders possess when overseeing patient care. Such care, whether executed at the micro, meso, or macro level, can be beneficial to an organization, or results in the failure when change is inappropriately addressed. A strong leader is one who can manage change, and direct care throughout all the numerous levels of an organization by utilizing values that are a reflection of the bureaucratic thoughts and principles, or the complex adaptive system.

The High-Impact Leadership Behavior framework provides a map in which leaders of organizations must focus their efforts on in order to achieve the Triple Aim. According to the model the leader be driven by persons and community, shape desired organizational culture and engage across traditional boundaries of the health care system (Institute of Healthcare Improvement, 2016). In the process the leader must develop the capability, deliver results and create a vision and build will. For example, a leader must be able to include patients’ needs and engage with patients and their families. Most importantly, patients must be able to understand the leader. Therefore, a leader must be able to communicate with their community at their level of understanding. Furthermore, leaders must create the infrastructure for their staff in order to receive the proper skills in order to perform the assign

I have chosen transformational leadership as my preferred leadership style because it focuses on empowering others by involving them in decision making, which makes them feel as a part of the team contributing to achieve superior results (Roussel and Swansburg 2009). Numerous studies indicate that transformational leadership is very effective and commonly used in healthcare because it is based on altering and shaping the goals and values of others to attain the best results (Bass 2008).Transformational leadership takes a visionary position, inspires followers through their inspirational nature and charismatic personalities, recognises individual differences and supports followers to develop their strengths (Bass 2008). In transformational leadership rules and regulations are guided by the team’s norms and decisions are made by the team. This attribute provides followers sense of belonging and promote followers to develop ownership of the team’s vision (Bach and Ellis 2011). However, Whitehead et al. (2009) argues that the transformational leaders have less control than transaction leaders, as they believe in providing support to the followers rather than controlling

Transformational leaders focus on followers to motivate and to perform to their potential and transactional leaders focus on day to day care. The important aspect of transformational leader is to articulate a shared vision [Faugier and Woolnough, 2002]. Transactional leaders are more concerned about controlling order and predictability but transformational leader realizes the importance of challenging within the project for positive possibilities [Faugier and Woolnough, 2002]. The leadership style of transformational leaders helps hospitals to improve the faith and respect, value staff as individuals, solving the problems along values and principles. They also challenge their goals for future. For today’s fast changing health care organization

A leader can be transformational or transactional. Dr. Saffrin and the different leaders of the American Cancer Society are transformational leaders by showing inspirational motivation. According to Northouse (2016), “this factor is descriptive of leaders who communicate high expectations to followers, inspiring them through motivation to become committed to and a part of the shared vision in the organization” (p. 169). Dr. Saffrin and the ACS board share the skill of communicating the high expectation of access to care to his followers, since they spent months traveling throughout the country to describe this project to the staff,

James MacGregor Burns (1978) defines transformational leadership as “the process whereby a person engages with others and creates a connection that raises the level of motivation and morality in both the leader and the follower”. The leader attends to the wants, needs, and/or motives of the followers; while at the same time the leader strives to get the followers to reach their full potential. This leadership style/approach differs from transactional leadership: where the focus is placed on the exchanges that occur between the leaders and followers (Northouse, 2016). This stage is still experimental because Anthony Hassan is still looking for competent clinicians to fill the role.

From this case study, Dr. John Seffrin and the American Cancer Society can be analyzed as leaders on promoting the access to care initiative to ensure equal quality healthcare to lifesaving cancer treatments. One example seen here, is the transformational leadership approach. This style according to Northouse (2016) “is a process that changes and transforms people. It is concerned with emotions, values, ethics, standards, and long-term goals” (pg. 161), which the American Cancer Society shares in order to reach its goal of providing access to care to patients dealing with this condition to achieve their 2015 goals of reducing cancer death rates by 50%, reduce the cancer incidence rates by 25%, and improve the quality of life for all cancer

The world needs leaders to lead by example. The health care field needs leaders to promote what is the right things to do in healthcare thus enhance the productivity of care delivery in a qualifying cost-effective way. Leaders are skilled with brilliance, innovation for change and possess the vision to determine what needs to be done as well as empower people to strive for change and promote a healthier system for that which is of concern. Transformational style leaders are preferred in the new design of healthcare delivery systems today. Transformational Leadership inspires followers and acts as role models, creating acceptance of the mission and purpose of the team (as cited in Lievens, & Vlerick, 2014).

A transformational leadership style along with good communication skills can be used to manage the multiples issues Hartland Memorial faces. “Transformational leadership involves anticipating future trends, inspiring followers to understand and embrace a new vision of possibilities, developing others to be leaders, and reward learners” (Hellriegal & Slocum, 2009, p. 301). Elizabeth and her associates should have the necessary qualities of a transformational leader; integrity, accountability, and motivation, so the staff can identify with them. The nurse manager could give nurses opportunities to demonstrate and experience leadership in their profession on a regular basis. Effective leadership is critical in delivering high quality care; equally

“Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose”, written by Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, an online shoe company, tells the story of how they grew from the ground, up to a well-known company. Hsieh is the perfect example of a transformational leader. The characteristics Tony Hsieh embodies are some of the many characteristics necessary to exemplify transformational leadership theory. Hsieh is a charismatic leader who has the ability to empower others, make difficult decisions, create visions and goals, which appeal to his followers and create a positive cultural environment. Transformational leadership has become very attractive in the workplace and although presented by Hsieh in a shoe company, this leadership style is also applied in the nursing role. I will further define transformational leadership and concepts related as well as discuss how this will be applied to nursing practice and finally how it has impacted my future carrer.

Transformational model can adopt instructive, or consultation functions, shared, relation-grounded, or task-oriented, very condition dependent, or self-character dependent (Molero, Cuadrado, Navas & Morales, 2007). Demonstrating transformational leadership, ethical behaviors, and obvious concern for others, leaders may gain organizational credibility. SAHC leaders must utilize attributes of transformational leadership to manage current challenges related to employee hiring and retention, diversity, electronic medical record management, and cost containment.

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, it requires people who attain great leadership qualities. The success of an organization depends on employees that can inspire people around them to achieve greatness and deliver quality care to the patients. Being in the healthcare industry, we have seen many changes recently. Therefore, by having a person with leadership qualities to guide others through these changes, while maintaining an organization that can deliver quality care is indispensable.