Transformational Leader Profile

Transformational clueing is a topic of immense interest these old age. some(prenominal) a(prenominal) individuals possess the makings of a transformational drawing card plainly do non k instantly b arely what it means, or how to realize their own ambitions in clubhouse to alter human perishs. In this sense, observing able leaders with prove leading abilities is an excellent resource for inspiration. For example, Ameri heap TV host and celebrity leader, Oprah Winfrey presents mavin of the close to remarkable face-to-faceizedities in the American media. Her course has not been easy, scarcely thank to her skills and lead potency she has exerted influence on the lives of many concourse.What Is Transformational LeadershipThe concept of transformational leadership evolved in juxta arrange with that of transactional leadership. In The precedent of Transactional and Transformational Leaders (1978), a transactional leader is delimitate as peerless who, approaches del ineateers with an middle to exchanging one thing for an opposite jobs for votes, or subsidies for campaign contributions (Burns, 1978). From this statement we watch out that the enjoyment of the transactional leader derives itself from the types of structures that an individual participates in.In contrast, a transformational leader, recognizes and exploits an existing need or consider of a potential follower(and) looks for potential motives in followers, seeks to satisfy higher needs, and eng dates the safe person of the follower (Boje, 2000). Transformational leaders can range from being in regulateectual, to superstaric level(p) normal allday individuals with a dreaming and the go out to make it come dependable as substantially.In most cases, transformational leaders tend to radically modification the viewpoints of the societies they live in. A transformational leader possesses the capabilities and desire to civilize a quite a little and inspire another(prenominal ) mess to follow it. As a result, a profound cultural change occurs that reshapes the existence of many populate force by their leaders actions.Oprah Winfrey as a Transformational LeaderOprah Winfrey has become a remarkable personality in the media, playing in many dissimilar spheres. She is not only a TV host she in like manner poses as, magazine ease up, educator and philanthropist and one of the most respected and admire world figures today (Harpo Productions, Inc., 2006). Starting from lowly beginnings, Oprah succeeded in becoming one of the best-known American celebrities of modern television. She exerts dramatic shock absorber on the lives of people in this land and those living beyond its boundaries.At the cartridge holder Oprah Winfrey started her cargoner on TV, she was the first African American woman to anchor the intelligence agency at Nashvilles WTVF-TV (Harpo Productions, Inc., 2006). As her online website produced by Harpo Inc. tells us, she obtained this job after she gained find out at WVOL radio in Nashville, Tennessee.after a victorion of jobs, Oprah was appointed to lead her first talk separate, AM Chicago, circularise in the morning. Surprisingly to many, with her talent, Oprah soon eclipsed the hero-worship Phil Donahue as her press out became even to a greater extent popular than his. (Harpo Productions, Inc., 2006)., Oprah found luck in the television world, as television viewing earreach soon fell in go to sleep with her personality and motivating shows. Even the political relation of the broadcasting networks could not deny her popularity. Since indeed her success has been driven by her skill to impress people with her talents.Oprahs transformational leadership comes from her success in refashioning herself and overcoming her traumatic past. Kyra Kirkwood (2005), tells us in her, business concern Hero Oprah, word that the television star was born on Jan. 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. During her childho od Oprah suffered from physical and genial abuse when living with her mother. The unhappy kinship between herself and her mother practiced young Oprah to hold on away from home at the age of thirteen. She leftfield her mother to go on to Nashville, to live with her ultra-strict father (Kirkwood, 2005).Many would make believe remained troubled for a biographytime by an unfortunate experience of this magnitude. However, Oprahs intimate strength allowed her to finagle with it. Moreover, as a true transformational leader, she sh bes her experience with others in cabaret to cooperate them take hold of their lives. Her speech console many women who try to cope with the affable forms of submissive behavior. Although derogatory and un wished, company continues to mold women into these confusing roles. Oprah, as stated by Kirkwood (2005), remembered in her cock-a-hoop life the by-line things about her childhood exploitation. . . one knows part of the process for me as an ad ult has been recognizing that my inability as an adult female person to say No, my disease to gratify as a female, is the same thing that pillowcased me to be victimized as a child. Many times, I would get myself into situations as an adult where I did not exigency to hurt anybodys feelings or want anybody angry with me. (Oprah, as quoted by Kirkwood, 2005).Transformational leadership surfaces in the statement as volition that Oprah is able to recognize the root cause of her problem and rise above accomplished wisdom that she has chooseed from her environment. As a leader, she takes applies her wisdom and offers the experience from the lessons she has learned to help others. She develops a much than general vision of womens predicaments and the resulting psychology, and makes her vision known to the existence.She encourages people to turn over voice to their emotions when they get abused, You tell anybody until nighbody listens to you (Kirkwood, 2005). In this way Oprah emerges as a leader who, through her success reputation, transforms the lives of many women. She continues showing viewers the path of success she had to travel from a coloured and stressful beginning.Oprah T to each oneing Leadership whizz project in which Oprah directly commits to dispersal knowledge of how to be a female leader is through her participation in, and insertion of, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls-South Africa. The Academy founded in cooperation with Nelson Mandela, the South African Ministry of Education prof Kader Asmal and Guateng MEC of Education Ignatius Jacobs, is to become the basis for womens leadership in South Africa (Harpo Productions, Inc., 2006). on that point girls can learn to make a contribution to their environment in order and take advantage of their inborn talents.With this project, Oprah makes a commitment to change the lives of girls, hoping to em military unit them with knowledge and skills they may otherwise fool left undev eloped. Students of the school take a live on against the male-dominated world saying that the biased social setup is to end soon and that women are prepared to share indicator (Harpo Productions, Inc., 2006).Oprahs project intends to teach students how to share power effectively. With this effort, she demonstrates the true transformational whole tone that is going to sham the lives of the girls in the remote parts of the world. The oddment revolves just about victorious them out of their familiar roles and teaching them to add a refreshing dimension to their lives. Although the girls may not seen Oprah that often, they will undoubtedly be inspired by meetings with her. Having her for a role model, and continuously following her example will impressively run into their lives.Influencing the Lives of PeopleOprahs reach goes uttermost beyond the lives of a group of girls in South Africa. Hosting an influential show in a nation as coarse as the United States, her speech co mmunication are heard by millions of viewers each day. What sets her apart from other talk show hosts and makes her a transformational leader is that people do not just listen to her words for entertainment they often take them as a guide to action, a mighty guide that motivates many effectual deeds.In her show in 1997, she encouraged viewers to use their lives to make a leaving in the lives of others, which led to the creation of the macrocosm charity Oprahs Angel cyberspace in 1998 (Harpo Productions, Inc., 2006). So far the judicature has been responsible for the collection of over $50 million that was utilized for the construction of shelters and homes. These structures now house women and youth all around the world. Activities such as this have helped change the lives of many people who have been unholy with the charity funds.Perhaps even more important was Oprahs influence on those who moved forward to help the cause when she appealed to the public. People who otherwise did not give thought to charity as a way to help others now became nimble donors of the network, helping others reach their goals and improve quality of life. This action represents a very good use of the TV show as a way to change peoples mentality for the better. Consequently, new horizons undetermined to them for good development instead of just another television program socialise them with stories.In fact, this is the main strength of Oprahs show. She likes to present her viewers with a story that is not merely entertaining but also has a deep moral message or presents a challenge. The prove debate can become a trigger to many, spurring them to re-evaluate their opinions and reconsider views.In doing so, Oprah does not act as a boring moralizer she presents herself as the same down-to-earth, compassionate woman she was in her first days on TV. Awards and financial success have not made her lose her capitulum or become arrogant. In fact, her sacred closeness and underst anding of the people she screames in her show makes her message both unchewable and penetrating. Analyzing her leadership ability, one can say that she possesses superior communication skills that make her ideas appeal to a wide material body of people.Oprah takes every opportunity to reach the hearts and minds of people. convey to her appeal to the audience, her productions in almost every environment soon become popular. For example, her take called Oprahs Magazine currently is one of the most popular womens publications with an audience of 2.4 million readers a month (Harpo Productions, Inc., 2006).When she launched Oprah.com website on womens lifestyle, it also gained popularity. It now reports to middling 64 million page views and more than three million users per month, plus receives close to 12,000-15,000 emails each week. She is also the creator of Dr. Phil syndicated show with Harpo Productions, Inc., co-founder of Oxygen Media cable television network, founder of O prah and Friends radio channel on XM broadcast Radio, and producer of the musical Color empurpled that was launched in 2005 in Broadway Theater in New York City (Harpo Productions, Inc., 2006).This broad variety of activities demonstrates Oprahs multi-faceted talents and interest in bear on peoples lives in many different ways using various means available.Oprahs Influence on My Personal Leadership StyleI believe that Oprahs impact was subservient in helping me shape my personal leadership style. Her ability to be large-hearted without appearing pompous and pretentious is something I try to imitate when developing my personal communication skills. I think well developed presentation and communication skills are the key to successful leadership, and Oprah Winfrey is an excellent model of both. Maintaining an unassuming and emotional style, she can address her audience on serious issues, and I think it would be excellent to learn this skill as well.My life was also affected by obs erving Oprah taking responsibility for other peoples destinies, as in the case of the honorary society she founded for South African girls. I nurse with her idea that when one sees things being far from perfect, one should learn to say No and take some positive action to remedy it. In this sense, I am try to follow Oprahs socially active position on things.At the same time, I also find her leadership captivating because she perceives people with her heart just as much as with her mind. In my view, this is the most effective path to transformational leadership. It includes giving people emotional support and warmth and trying to help them become more desexualize emotionally. Oprahs kindness and caring military posture are among her strongest qualities as a leader, and these I would like to emulate.Oprah Winfrey is the kind of person who realize her potential in the face of ill circumstances. Her talent put her in public spotlight, making her a leader with power to transform th e lives of millions. She used her clout with the public very wisely and responsibly, inspiring many to reconsider their lives and empowering them to do good to other people. This, in my opinion, makes her a truly transformational leader whose achievements are to be admired.ReferencesBass, B. (1985). Leadership and death penalty beyond expectation. New York FreePress.Boje, D. (2000). Transformational Leadership. Retrieved on June 6, 2006, fromHarpo Productions, Inc., (2006). Oprah Winfreys Biography. Retrieved on June 6, 2006 fromhttp//www.oprah.com/about/press/about_press_bio.jhtmlKirkwood, K. (2005) Business Hero Oprah. The My Hero Project. Retrieved on June 6, 2006from http//myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=oprahhero