Often times, the idea of transformation cannot take place without someone or a group of persons championing it behind the wheels. No transformation anywhere happens out of the blues. Every transformation is a product of ideas, collaboration, and most importantly, leadership. The question is: Why leadership? The truth of the matter is that no matter how beautiful the ideas may appear, no matter how effective the collaboration may be, if there is no leadership to coordinate everything, the transformation outcome would at best be a mirage. So, there must be of necessity, a man or woman who is championing the expected transformational outcomes.

Haven said these, how Critical Is leadership then to transformational outcomes? Let me quickly show us three things that I believe are germane to this transformational process.

• The leader must see himself or herself as the transformational catalyst

No meaningful transformation can take place outside of the leader. Whether you are trying to transform an organization, or you are trying to transform a social order or system, or you are trying to transform a person or group of persons, every transformational experience must begin with the leader. The leader must assume the role and take upon himself or herself the responsibility for bringing about the transformation that he or she want to see. Jesus said to His disciples: “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” In other words, Jesus was saying “follow me, everything you see me do, do, everything you see me say, say the same.” This is how transformation is instilled. This is why the leader is a transformational catalyst because people do what they see and are ultimately transformed into what they see.

• For transformational outcomes, leadership must be all-inclusive

Everyone’s opinion, idea and inputs must be recognized and welcomed in the transformational process. Under no circumstances should the leader manage the whole process. Most transformational leaders that we read or talk about are never known to run a one man show. Majority (if not all of them) run an inclusive style of leadership. Take for instance, Jesus Christ. He never ran a one-man-do-it-all kind of leadership. Even at certain occasions that He knew what He would do, the Bible still documented that He asked His disciples about what they think. Real transformational outcomes cannot take place except the leader practices an all-inclusive leadership style.

• For transformational outcomes, leadership must be vision-driven

Every transformation begins from the place of envisioning it. Whatever that can be envisioned, can be birthed; if adequate efforts and the work require to birth the said vision is put in place. Therefore, transformational outcomes are products of vision.

In summary, any transformational outcome requires the interplay of these three things: the leader being a transformational catalyst, the need to run an all-inclusive leadership, and the vision to drive the transformational outcome. Please don’t forget to share this podcast with you your friends and to everyone you know would benefit from it. Also drop your comments as well so that we can interact with ourselves as leaders. Till next time, I remain Abiola Obayomi. Thank you.

Thanks for the gift of your time, Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!
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