Most of the transactional, "old-style" models are based on assessing activities and results. If targets are not met, management focus is on negative "exceptions", deviations from the guidelines. Sad as iti is, these transactional processes form the core of the managerial structures in many companies. They are easy to follow and you can create countless of MS Excel spreadsheets to support the approach. There may even be a unit just specialized in providing the tools for command & control type of management. It goes without saying that when also managers are dealt with the same approach people may start feeling indifferent to the company: "I am just a number to be followed" "I am a resource" "I am measured only by results".
Now the market is optimistic and companies start hiring again, both experts and managers have more to choose from and the recession leadership anxiety will backfire badly. If your best people were driven like cattle when the times allowed it, why should they stay? As we know, bad management is the number one reason to leave a company, not money, not conditions, not even the work it self but You - the manager.
The answer to address this challenge lies within the boundaries of the so called transformational leadership ideology, which is based on four cornerstones: Individual Concentration, Intellectual Stimulation, Inspirational motivation and Idealized Influence. These may sound as buzzwords to you, but there's hard data to support the superiority of these aspects in day-to-day leadership. But don't worry, even the top management team members are not likely to be ready for this thinking, so you can always turn back to your excels to find some reliable looking data and escape the responsiblity to drive the change. I can hear the senior vice president saying to you: "You know, when I started 35 years ago, nobody stimulated me or talked about greater meanings... and here I am."
Yes you are. But times have changed - for better. So maybe you should also?
It is so much easier to be transactional than transformational.
Luckily, we have been able to support organizations with the transformation towards the new era of business leadership. Don't hesitate to contact us and we will discuss further how we can help you to succeed in the ever-changing global business environment!
