Establishing Transformational Leadership

For me, the task of a leader is to set a vision and inspire others to do their best. From this, great things are possible.

History has proved this. Robert Noyce, co-founder of the company that eventually became Intel, was an early inspiration for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, who went on to establish Microsoft and Apple respectively.

Likewise, Niels Bohr, the father of sub-atomic physics, inspired a young group of physicists to challenge the might of conventional knowledge.

So, what is possible if young leaders were to develop their skills under the guidance of today's inspiring leaders? What would be the multiplier effect for community transformation?

It is a challenging prospect - not least for the established leaders. It will require letting go of control and allowing 'divine anarchy' to take hold at times, so that new ways of thinking can emerge. Yet it is the only way to grasp the challenge of transformation.

Existing leadership training has had limited success. I think it is because such training defines an 'ideal' set of tools but does not provide a process for working out how to integrate them with the philosophy and ethos of each trainee.

From my own experience, authentic leadership begins with a fundamental understanding of one's core values and unique perspective of what it means to be human.

Consequently, a leader works hard to create an organizational culture where it is safe to take risks and strive to do one's best. He or she, therefore, is a guardian - safeguarding personal dignity and inspiring others to use their talents and abilities to optimize performance.