What is the main point of the chapters’ material?
The main point of the chapter’s material is leadership that is transformational and authentic. Citing the examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Franklin Roosevelt, Johnson, 2013 highlights the basics of transformational leadership to be addressing human needs beyond the basic. Such human needs include esteem, self-actualization, self-fulfillment, and competence. Moreover, the transformational leaders yield tremendous success in positively influencing the culture and ethics of places such as institutions and organizations. Additionally, transformational leaders effect long term positive influence on their followers in their quest for positive change in the society. In the long run, their efforts do not get wasted but yield maximum results towards the intended cause.
Why is it important?
Transformational leadership has an indispensable importance that extends beyond the immediate outcome. For all leaders that embrace it, there is a guarantee that they will leave a legacy of positive influence on their followers. Additionally, the impact of transformational leadership places a firm conviction on addressing long-term needs rather than the short term needs sought by transactional leadership. Through responsible leadership, a push towards addressing global problems such as world hunger is realized ( Johnson, 2013) . Other than just clinging onto the business goals of the organization such as making a huge profit, transformational leadership comes in to trigger corporate responsibility. For instance, a transformational leader heading a company dealing in manufacture of products will feel the need to improve the lives of the community living near its premises. Furthermore, transformational leadership makes leaders custodians of the resources and values that look after the needs of future generations and the environment at large.
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When and if you can apply this information?
When in a leadership position, I can apply the concepts of transformational leadership. I can draw inspirational motivation to the followers and thus influence them to realize their full ethical and intellectual capabilities. I would make sure that my efforts address carefully thought goals that target worthy people in the organization. Furthermore, I would be the role model in depicting self-awareness, ethical behavior, partnerships and promoting healing in the organization ( Johnson, 2013) . Additionally, I would ensure that my interactions with my followers depict the values, morals, and motives that I hold in functioning as an effective leader. Being a servant leader will help me to exert positive influence through engaging in behavior that depicts intellectual stimulation, idealized influence, individualized consideration as well as an idealized influence ( Johnson, 2013) .
What surprised you about this information?
One of the most surprising things is that Taoism and Taoist ethics forbid reasoning. They do not highly uphold moral codes and laws but rather advocate for leaders to follow the path of nature. In one of their statements, they claim that "Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing" ( Johnson, 2013) . It is surprising how Taoism fails to recognize the effectiveness of rules and laws in influencing the desired change. For instance, enactment of laws forbidding racial discrimination resulted in its abolishment. Similarly, rules and regulations in organizations improve the ethical climate in an organization. On the other hand, Taoism promotes relativism on moral issues since a clear line of ethical and non-ethical behavior varies as per the principles of Taoism. In fact, Taoism claims that laws result in the creation of a new class of citizens, namely the law breakers ( Johnson, 2013) . Nevertheless, it condemns all acts of oppression of the poor by their leaders or oppression of employees by their employers. In fact, much criticism is placed on the wealthy politicians that live opulent lifestyles at the expense of the taxpayers. Another surprising fact us that aesthetic leadership voids rational reasoning in leadership. As a result, it encourages deceitful behavior by leaders as depicted in the example of Richard Branson. However, the beauty if aesthetic leadership manifests in the example of Sullenberger who considered the welfare of his passengers before his own ( Johnson, 2013) .
Reference
Johnson, C. E. (2013). Meeting the ethical challenges of leadership: Casting light or shadow . Sage Publications.
