Elon Musk: The Transformational Leader

Elon Musk, the co-founder of PayPal, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is known for his unorthodox approach to business and vision for the future. He intends to send tourists around the moon, colonize Mars, and even hack our brains. While it may seem impossible, Elon has already achieved remarkable feats such as seamless transaction of cash across the internet, a reusable rocket, and landing it vertically on a floating platform. So, what is his secret to success? Elon Musk is a transformational leader.

What is Transformational Leadership?

Transformational leadership is a type of leadership where the leader doesn’t just guide his team members to do the right thing but works with them to identify potential opportunities and problems, developing strategies with them. A transformational leader is someone who changes the world. They have an exceptional ability to identify inefficiencies in established systems and create solutions using teams and constant feedback. They can tweak and alter obsolete systems, plug financial drains and even establish new models, thereby realizing their vision and accomplishing their dreams.

Characteristics of Transformational Leaders

Transformational leaders share several traits, such as:

1. Visionary
Transformational leaders can see a need and envision a solution or gather team players to brainstorm possible solutions. The vision becomes their mission.

2. Empathetic
These leaders work side-by-side with their team members on various projects. Despite being the team lead, they influence their team positively through close rapport, and are in tune with their team player’s needs and concerns.

3. Inspirational
Transformational leaders know they’re responsible for the team. It’s their job to inspire and motivate, to keep everyone’s head in the game and cheer the team on to the finish line.

4. Supportive
The primary goal of a transformational leader is not just completing the task but also providing the required tools and encouragement to team members during the mission, in turn, developing future leaders.

Real Life Examples of Transformational Leaders

Some of the successful transformational leaders who have inspired their teams and the world include:

1. Richard Branson
Richard Branson, Founder and CEO of the Virgin Group, is known for taking care of his team. With a reputation for ‘happy and playful’ companies such as Virgin Mobile, Virgin Money, Virgin Media, and others, Branson’s companies offer employees unlimited vacation time among other perks, making sure to take care of his team.

2. Vishen Lakhiani
Vishen Lakhiani, founder, and CEO of Mindvalley believes in smashing the rules. His unique and employee-friendly company, based on transformational education, encourages creativity and interaction. His leadership style is interesting, providing bean bag chairs in the conference room, and comfortable places to work, not confining his team members to desks. Every year, he hosts the Awesomeness Fest, a party/learning experience in a tropical location, introducing new ideas and innovative ways of changing the way people think and view their world.

3. Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, Gandhi, and many more
Transformational leadership has left a mark on history, with many leaders using these practices to change the world as we know it. Some notable examples include Henry Ford who envisioned the automobile and gathered a team to make it a reality, Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, and Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, who discovered electricity. Other transformational leaders include Nelson Mandela, who stood against apartheid in South Africa, Gandhi, who changed society in India through peace, and many more—all who motivated their teams to back them up in achieving their visions.

How to Become a Transformational Leader

1. Have a Vision
Identify what’s lacking in society, observe potential opportunities for improvement, and aspire to make a change.

2. Build a Like-Minded Team
Get a tribe of like-minded individuals to share your values and goals.

3. Brainstorm Solutions with Your Team
Involve your team in developing solutions to problems. Don’t dictate what to do without discussing them first.

4. Develop a Concrete Action Plan
Break big tasks into smaller ones and develop action plans with the required tools, money, and time.

5. Make Your Goal a Mission
Make your goal achievable and ambitious. Share your mission with your team and align everyone’s effort with the ultimate goal.

6. Keep Your Team in Mind
Be the coach and cheerleader, work with your team, talk to them, listen to their concerns and take action accordingly. The best leaders foster creativity, growth, and independence.

7. Celebrate Your Successes & Learn From Your Failures
Celebrate small wins and take every mistake as a learning opportunity. Root it out using the 5 Whys approach.

Conclusion

Transformational leadership can change the world, and great leaders like Elon Musk have proven that. With visionary leadership and empathetic management, transformational leaders motivate their teams and move society forward. If you aspire to be a transformational leader, observe your surroundings, build a tribe, share your vision, develop plans of action, keep your tribe in mind, and root out problems for small wins. With this leadership style, you too can change the world.