From Followers to Leaders

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to respond to the emerging scholarship regarding first-time leaders and their situational and potential lifelong learning environment. While transformational leadership may be the long-term goal, this chapter explains how the process of other traditional leadership theories can help assess and build upon its effectiveness. In this regard, this chapter argues that transformational leadership can be conceptually understood through five other supporting leadership theories, namely behavioral, psychodynamic, situational, path-goal, and leader-member exchange. Thus, there are essential characteristics from traditional leadership theories and others that can help aspiring transformational first-time leaders. Through lifelong learning and development of these leadership approaches, culminating characteristics for aspiring transformational first-time leaders must include not only motivation and morality, but also care and concern for others.