Learning how to be a transformational leader through a skill-building, role-play exercise

Transformational leadership is a universal ideal leadership style. Research has shown that transformational leadership is more effective across a wide range of situations compared to transactional leadership. However, in practice, managers often resort to a transactional style of leadership. Thus, it is important to provide students an opportunity to practice the transformational leadership style. This article details a two-step, role-play exercise that enables students to learn and apply specific influence tactics that can be used by transformational leaders. The exercise is ideal for use by instructors of both undergraduate and graduate organizational behavior and leadership classes. This exercise can also be used for executive training and coaching.