Transformational and Servant Leadership  

Transformational leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on inspiring and motivating followers to achieve a shared vision. Transformational leaders create a sense of urgency for change and help followers see the benefits of change. They also build trust and rapport with followers, which helps to create a climate of openness and collaboration.

Servant leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on serving the needs of others. Servant leaders put the needs of their followers first and are committed to helping them grow and develop. They are also humble and willing to listen to feedback. 

Both transformational and servant leadership styles are effective in accelerating change. However, transformational leadership is often more effective in the early stages of change, when it is important to create a sense of urgency and build momentum. Servant leadership is often more effective in the later stages of change, when it is important to build trust and collaboration.

Accelerating Change: Top tips for leaders

In addition to adopting the right leadership style, there are number of things that leaders can do to accelerate change. These include:

• Communicating effectively: Leaders need to communicate the need for change clearly and concisely. They also need to communicate the benefits of change and address any concerns that followers may have.
• Building trust and rapport: Leaders need to build trust and rapport with their followers in order to gain their buy-in for change. They can do this by being open and honest, being supportive, and being respectful of others.
• Empowering followers: Leaders need to empower their followers to take ownership of the change process. This means giving them the authority to make decisions and the resources they need to be successful.
• Celebrating successes: Leaders need to celebrate successes along the way, no matter how small. This helps to keep momentum going and motivates followers to continue working towards the goal.

Accelerating change is not easy, but it is possible with the right leadership. By adopting the right leadership style and following these tips, leaders can help their organizations to adapt to change and remain competitive in the ever-changing world.

Other leadership styles that are effective during change 

In addition to the leadership styles mentioned above, there are a number of other leadership styles that can be effective in accelerating change. These include:

• Democratic leadership: This style of leadership involves involving followers in the decision-making process. This can help to build buy-in for change and make it more likely that followers will be willing to implement it.
• Coaching leadership: This style of leadership involves providing guidance and support to followers as they learn new skills and adjust to change. This can help to ensure that followers are successful in implementing change.
• Visionary leadership: This style of leadership involves articulating a clear vision for the future and inspiring followers to work towards that vision. This can help to create a sense of urgency for change and motivate followers to achieve the desired outcome.

The best leadership style for accelerating change will vary depending on the specific situation. However, by understanding the different leadership styles available and choosing the right one for the situation, leaders can help their organizations to adapt to change and remain competitive. 

(With inputs from Sanjay’s new book on accelerating change for leaders, coming soon!)