Transformational Leadership Essay Sample

The Transformational Leadership Program has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life and I have learnt lifelong lessons that will make me a better professional and person. I can look back at this time in my life as one that challenged me to think outside of my own world view and to become aware of what is really required to fulfill a vision of a better future. I have always been aware of some discrimination against African Americans but I have never really known how to overcome these inequalities and have always looked at these inequalities as impossible to overcome. I now have a better knowledge of myself, my goals and what is required for becoming the leader I can possibly be. I see inequalities as a source of curiosity and exploration of theory to inform leadership for African Americans.
The three key points of learning that have had the most impact on my own leadership development focus on the realities of potential of being an African American. Transcending racial inequality through leadership, networking but also emanating a strong charisma and personal identity is a theme in this discussion. Understanding the way that social identity interacts with personal identity is also an important way of creating harmony as a professional and individual.
Why do African Americans face so many challenges that other citizens do not? Why do African Americans have a lower standard of living and have traditionally been less prominent in leadership roles throughout the country? The reality is that African Americans are positioned differently in society because of their race and always have been. The structures, institutions and polices of governments either intentionally or unintentionally distributed more benefits for some and burdens to others. This if often as a result of ignorance, lack of well thought out research or practical experience. For example, there is often concentrated poverty in some neighborhoods resulting in segregation, increases the poverty gap, lowers education and continues the cycle of poverty. This shows in the amount of money that black people make compared to white people. Black men earn 34% less than white men and black women earn 67% less than black men. Such barriers may seem overwhelming in material terms however the right knowledge of leadership, networking and relationships while dismissing material burdens can help African Americans to see beyond structural, institutional and policy inequalities. Becoming aware of the values of a self-making person and having the attitude that everyone is responsible for their own fate is one of the most important lessons that African Americans can learn.
Relationships, networking and charisma are ways of showing interest in the goals and interests of others. It can also help with overcoming many racial barriers that prevent a person from being self-making. It requires the correct knowledge and judgement of the audience in order to show leadership characteristics. This may start as something small in a volunteer or community capacity and result in new opportunities for personal and career growth.
Leadership works alongside a strong identity that can overcome the duo consciousness or veil of being an African American. This means that an African American looks at oneself through the eyes of others, measuring one’s soul and the feeling that one is an American as well as an African American in conflict with each other. Despite this conflict, African Americans have always been able to see past these barriers and follow or create a vision despite overwhelming odds. The Civil Rights Movement demonstrated an almost unbelievable capacity for leadership in the face of violence and prejudice. Leaders of this movement did not achieve their status through networks, relationships charisma and a strong sense of identity alone. They understood that leadership was an important part of the movement at every level, showing African American’s talent but exercising discretion to the audience or media. They also knew that leaders require a strong vision and people to fulfill that vision that believe it no matter what the obstacles are. The management of this vision involved risk and some people were better at managing than creating the vision. This can be applied equally to the business world or to activities in the community.
At the core of Civil Rights Movement was the need for a very strong personal identity of all the leaders. A strong personal identity will make one stay true to themselves in any situation and help find harmony between the duo consciousness explained by Dubois but also the conflicts between personal and social identity. This is made all the more difficult in situations where the structures, policies and institutions define one by their race. Just like the Civil Rights Movement many African Americans are entering the corporate world that is an unfamiliar one not created with African American culture in mind. This environment poses many challenges related to language and expressing African culture. Should one assimilate or stay true to personal identity that includes culture and language? A good knowledge of leadership at every level will find harmony between the two while maintaining an individual’s purpose that may be a higher calling related to god, a single purpose shared by others or multiple purposes. A purpose gives one power and allows one to make a valuable contribution while grounding an individual. It defines yourself on your terms as opposed to others defining your life. This makes room for self-determination.
Leadership is not just for high level employees, it is required at all levels of an organization and within our society. It can be practiced by a person that is not assigned to a formal leadership position and instead people can become leaders by gaining the respect of others who value a leader’s opinions, personal style and initiative. Leaders can emerge when others need direction and the leader can share their expertise and knowledge for getting group of people to achieve a goal. The role of leadership is also changing in many organizations and the expertise of some individuals is called upon by senior staff through networks of people with access to technology. The old paradigm was to have a designated leader or manager but the reality was that many did not have the expertise or time to attain the knowledge of some issues. There are now many opportunities for African Americans to show their leadership qualities in the workplace and to use technology and networking to display their expertise and to be the self-making person.
TLP has equipped me with methods that can assist me with moving towards my personal and professional leadership goals. It has helped explain why some of the discrimination of being an African American exists. I have now been equipped with strategies to overcome these barriers and to look at the disadvantages as barriers that can be overcome by simple steps required of leadership. It has taught me to take simple steps in order to become a leader and to stop looking at the big picture or material gains. Instead it is possible to create a vision and to take small steps towards that vision eventually resulting in material and careers goals. I compare the scenario to being the captain of a football team trying to lead your team against the current champions of the league The captain recognizes how difficult it is to win without doing any preparation for overcoming the barriers. She or he must look at strategy and a winning formula. The captain’s team may not be the strongest but it is possible to become just as great as the winning team by using leadership to create and fulfill a vision. It may take 20 years to win but inevitably there will be a time when the captain can catch up, learn the tricks and build a strong team around you as a captain.
This program has taught me to see beyond material gains and prestige in order to attain my goals. Instead it has made me look at leadership as a way of empowering oneself and others around you but and show my expertise and knowledge without compromising your personal identity. Leadership begins at all levels of an organization and happens when people need direction. There are opportunities of giving people direction in many different organizations but it is often not easy to be accepted into these places because of structural, institutional and policy inequalities. I now know that it is possible but that it requires charisma, networking and relationship building and a good judgment of the audience in order to do this. African American are well positioned to take advantage of the much more informal management structures that take advantage of expertise and technology in companies. Our history of change in America has always relied on a vision of a better future and a knowledge of leadership is a winning formula for putting the step in place to fulfill our personal larger vision of a better future for our people.
I take the role of leadership very seriously and have a theoretical knowledge to inform my practical ambitions of starting my own business and becoming a highly educated accountant. I realize that it may be difficult to get a job and as I become better at the job I will be met with issues of duo consciousness that questions my own ethnicity in the face of being an American as well as an African American. so I will do a number of things to increase my chances of working in my field without compromising my personal identity. I will continue to embrace my personal identity that includes not only my African American history but also the religion and customs that we as people embrace. I will continue to practice religion and know that my self-determination comes from my god given talents. This is important because it gives me a firm anchoring point of family and community that is part of who I am and helps me to keep perspective. However, there are some things about my personal identity that may not necessary be accepted in the workplace and is an example of a barriers that is mostly structural and ignorant of race. For example, the way that I use African American language may not be accepted in some workplaces and I need a strategy that can keep harmony between my personal and social identity. I believe that networking with white students and joining as many extracurricular activities as possible at college prepares me more for Dubois Duo consciousness dilemma. I have the opportunity to see how my language is perceived by other and to observe how white people interact and talk to each other. It does not necessarily mean that I will speak and interact the same way but understand how I can find a harmony between my personal and social identity. I will build business relationships with my African American and white American friends but also take interest in any volunteer or work activities and show interest in this without being overbearing and judging the audience well. I believe strongly in lifelong learning and I will continue this philosophy as I become a better business person and accountant. I will also try to use contacts from my own business to work as a corporate accountant and to continue network and making relationships. I want to improve my chances of getting a senior position by taking on responsibilities and showing leadership in all the positions that I work in so that I can build a team of followers.