Summary of ‘‘Transactional, Transformational, And Transcendent Leadership: Metaphors Mapping The Evolution Of The Theory And Practice Of Governance’ by John Jacob Gardiner

Transactional leaders trade benefits with their followers. Trust is low; information is shared on a limited basis; controlled participation which has little influence; the one powerful leader makes the decisions; divergent thinkers are often removed from the organization; the head of the organization determines the roles and the process is usually not open for review and revision by the group. Transformational leadership makes governance more collaborative. Trust is higher; more openly shared information; more meaningful participation; collective decision making is encouraged; divergent views are more protected. Transcendent leadership makes for a governance process which is more inclusive, more trusting, more sharing of information, more meaningfully involving associates, more collective decision making, more nurturance and celebration of divergent thinking and a willingness to serve the will of the collective consciousness as determined by the group – in essence, it is a leadership of service above self.