agressive communication Archives

Transactional vs Transformative Leadership

The concept of leadership is quite simple: a leader is one that aims to motivate and guide others to achieve an agreed objective. However, when we consider the diversity of leaders, it starts to become a little more complicated. Immediately we start to notice vast differences in how each person leads.

Commonly known as leadership styles, it refers to a leader’s behavioral characteristics when directing, motivating, mentoring, and achieving work expectations. Fortunately, researchers have delved deep into this topic to ascertain how to better communicate and motivate teams. As a result, different theories and frameworks were developed to help identify and understand the various leadership styles.

Most leadership styles tend to be either transactional or transformative. Generally, each of these types of leadership has different ways to influence attitudes and motivation among the employees.

Transactional leadership

As the name suggests, the transactional leadership style views a leader-employee relationship as a transaction. Leaders who adopt this highly directive style base leadership on a system of rewards and penalties in order to motivate the employees. For example, higher pay given in an exchange for increased productivity. Transactional leaders use a pragmatic approach to tackle problems, think of solutions, and drive people to get things done. As a result, employees receive definite and clear commands and are often carefully monitored to ensure that these expectations are met.

Pros

Transactional leadership tends to be most effective when problems are straightforward and clear. This style also works better for crisis situations where a solution is needed immediately.
As the leader is in command, it removes room for confusion and guesswork errors.
Transactional leadership creates clearly defined roles. Employees know what they are told to do and what they can achieve in exchange for their performance.
As this leadership is based on different sources of motivation, employees are motivated to perform well and achieve these rewards.

Cons

A transactional approach discourages out-of-the-box thinking and creative input from the employees because of its straightforward leadership.
There is a lack of focus on building relationships within the work environment. Because of the strict focus on using rewards to motivate employees, transactional leaders may not consider the working environment and tend to miss an attempt to build relationships with their employees.

Transformational leadership

Transformational leadership is a leadership style that directs positive changes to the employees. Not only do these leaders aim at achieving team objectives, but they also do so by focusing on employee needs and encourages them to reach their full potential. Unlike transactional leaders, transformational leaders find solutions by brainstorming and encouraging creativity among everyone in the team through an approach that inspires, nurtures, and develops the employees.

Pros

Research shows that this style of leadership is associated with positive effects on career employee development, satisfaction, and wellbeing as their needs are considered when expectations are to be met.
Employee creative input is encouraged and valued.
The experience is considered purposeful and enjoyable by the employees as their own needs and growth are highlighted in the process.
Leaders are value-driven and ethics-focused which encourages a shared group vision.

Cons

Employees may experience confusion as transformational leaders tend to take more risks in their approach to meeting expectations.
Transformational leadership tends to become too conceptual as proper task focus may lack for those employees that need proper guidance.

Research has shown that employees are also more likely to feel inspired, empowered, and stimulated to be part of the team and exceed in their team responsibilities when they receive leadership that is transformational. As a result, employees led by a transformative leader are more satisfied and often report higher levels of individual and team performance.

Whether you learned about leadership styles after reading this blog, it is likely that you are already applying some of the elements of transactional and transformative leadership. Here are some questions that you can use as a start to reflect on if you are leading with components of transformational leadership within your professional work: These questions were adapted from and inspired by Carless, Wearing, and Mann’s (2000) work.

Creative: Do I encourage people to think outside the box? Do I ask questions or simply take policies and procedures at face value?
Interactive: Do I encourage and recognize my employees for the work they are doing? Do I make myself accessible?
Visionary: Do I articulate a clear vision of the future for my employees?
Empowering: Do I actively work to build trust and foster teamwork?
Passionate: Do I show enthusiasm for the work I am doing? Do I provide extra encouragement when my employees seem discouraged?
Relationship builders: Do I take the time to get to know my employees personally?
Influence agents: Do I strive to be a good role model to my employees?

To sum up the difference between transactional and transformative leadership: transactional leadership looks at how to get things done through the use of rewards and punishments, and transformational leadership looks at how to inspire and motivate people to do things.

How to Relax at Work – Simple Techniques

While it may be well known that aspects of work can cause stress, less is known about ways to effectively relieve it. Whether it’s a new job, a promotion, tight deadlines, or uncooperative colleagues, everyone has aspects of their worklife that stress them out. In such times, it is important to manage thoughts and feelings in a way that helps rejuvenate, rather than compound what we are already experiencing. Some people may find that their work stressors not only affect their professional life, but aspects of their personal life as well, such as health, family, and relationships. Practicing techniques how to relax at work is one of the easiest ways to lower stress levels, manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.

Although avoiding stressful situations altogether sounds like an appealing idea, this may not always be possible. Relaxation techniques involve refocusing attention towards something calming and increasing awareness of bodily sensations. Contrary to popular belief, relaxation is not only relevant to enjoying a hobby or achieving peace of mind. It is a process that decreases the effects of stress on the mind as well as the body.

Individuals who are more relaxed at work report being more motivated, take fewer sick leaves, and engage in less procrastination. Effectively organizing the physical workspace has also shown to declutter and calm the mind and boost productivity. Some relaxing elements of work environments include elements of nature such as plants and aquariums. While direct contact with nature has several health benefits, research shows that even glimpses of nature through a window or photographs can improve mental health and satisfaction and reduce stress levels.

Taking breaks from long periods of work is also an important part of maintaining health, efficiency, and productivity.

Some health benefits of relaxation include:

Improved digestion
Higher energy levels
Increased confidence
Lower blood pressure
Improved concentration
Improved quality of sleep
Reduced activity of stress hormones
Increased blood flow to major muscles

Some types of relaxation include:

Autogenic Relaxation

Autogenic relaxation is a technique that focuses on teaching the body to respond to verbal commands. This can include using visual imagery and bodily awareness to reduce stress. For some, it can look like repeating words and/or phrases either mentally or verbally, encouraging relaxation and reducing muscle tension. For example, individuals may imagine a peaceful environment, then focus on controlled and relaxed breathing which slows down their heart rate. Attention can then be diverted to feeling other physiological sensations such as relaxing each part of the body.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

This technique focuses on slowly tensing and relaxing each muscle group, directing individuals’ focus to the difference between muscle tension and relaxation and simultaneously increasing awareness of physical sensations. One way of doing this is starting by tensing and relaxing the toe muscles, progressively working up to the muscles of the head and neck, and then back down to the toes. Some practice tensing for five seconds, relaxing for thirty seconds, and then repeating.

Visualization

This relaxation technique involves forming mental conceptions to take a visual journey to a peaceful and calming place or situation. Relaxing using this technique is most effective when the sensations associated with all the senses are incorporated into the visualized scenario. An example of visualizing relaxing on the beach may include thinking about the warmth of the sun on one’s body, the smell of saltwater, the sound of crashing waves, and the texture of sand. A quiet spot void of distractions where individuals can close their eyes, loosen any tight clothing and focus on their breathing helps to make the visualization more vivid.

It is important to remember that instinctually implementing these techniques is a skill that will improve gradually with time and practice. Different techniques may be more suited to different types of people. With this in mind, it may be beneficial to consider professional mental health services if feelings of stress and discomfort are persistent and seem overwhelming.

How Assertiveness Communication Can Be Effective?

Assertiveness is a concept often associated with misconceptions involving aggression and arguing. Factually, assertiveness entails the effective and honest communication of one’s needs, wants, feelings, beliefs, and opinions without disrespecting those of the other person. To assert our rights effectively, we first need to be able to identify whether we are effectively communicating while being assertive, as opposed to being passive or aggressive.

In the organizational context, the internal communication strategies maintained by corporations significantly impact the company’s health and productivity. One common outcome of poor communication within organizations is that employees lack a strong sense of connection to their organization, which in turn hinders company cohesiveness.

Communication is a two-way process, and it is important to understand that people may not always interpret what we say to them accurately. Effective communication ensures not only that we have sent the message that we wanted, but also that it is received and understood in the way that it was intended.

Passive Behavior

Passive behavior includes a lack of confidence for individuals to advocate for their own needs, wants, thoughts and feelings. They tend to let others make decisions and go along with them even if it contradicts what they think, feel, or want. Their attitude is focused on pleasing other people and disregarding or belittling themselves. This avoidance of expression, along with their apologetic nature, allows for their grievances to unconsciously build up until they have reached their threshold of tolerance. They may then experience outbursts that are usually disproportionate to the triggering incident and followingly feel guilt, shame, and confusion while returning to passivity.

Common thought, belief, and behavior patterns in those with a passive communication style:

“I am weak.”
“I can’t say no to people.”
“I don’t know what my rights are.”
“People never consider my feelings.”

Aggressive Behavior

Aggressive behavior is focused on the goal of winning at all costs and forcing others into submission. Individuals with this communication style express their thoughts, feelings, needs, and wants while violating the rights of others. This may involve offensive language, telling instead of asking, humiliating, and shaming. Attitudes surrounding this behavior are usually those of superiority and intimidation. This domination-centered mode of expression cultivates environments where they generate fear and hatred in others and are alienated by them. They also lack accountability and are quick to blame their problems on external factors or people.

Common thought, belief, and behavior patterns in those with an aggressive communication style:
“I am entitled.”
“You owe me.”
“It’s all your fault.”
“I will get my way no matter what.”
“I know more than you do, so listen to me.”

Assertiveness

Assertiveness can be thought of as a healthy middle ground between the extremes of hostility/aggression and inactivity/passivity. Assertive communication skills include expressing your needs clearly while maintaining respect for the other person. Assertive individuals communicate towards a conclusion that is mutually agreed upon. They value themselves, their time, and their needs, and are strong advocates for what is acceptable and unacceptable to them. Those who are assertive understand that putting up healthy boundaries and saying ‘no’ to unacceptable things allows them to feel empowered while maintaining their relationships with people. It also provides the people in their life with an accurate understanding of what can be expected from them.

Common thought, belief, and behavior patterns in those with an assertive communication style:

“I speak clearly, honestly, and to the point.”
“I can’t control others, but I can control myself.”
“I realize that I have choices in my life, and I consider my options.”
“I am responsible for getting my needs met in a respectful manner.”
“We are equally entitled to express ourselves respectfully to one another.”

Advantages of being assertive include minimal conflict, control over emotions, more positive and healthy relationships, and having needs better met. Assertive expression allows for an honest and genuine connection to other people and a sense of competence and control over one’s life. This creates a respectful environment for growth and maturation as issues are addressed as they arise and not left to fester.