What is Transformation?: Nine Principles Toward an Understanding of the Transformational Process for Transformational Leadership

Abstract

This paper seeks to offer an exploration of nine basic principles of transformational learning and organizational change theory as well as the implications of these principles for transformational leadership. While there are many theoretical discussions of transformational leadership (Anderson & Anderson, 2001; Bass, 1985; Bass & Avolio, 1994, Bass and Reggio, 2006; Burns 1978, 2003; Hacker & Roberts, 2004; Nanus, 1992; Tichy & Devanna, 1990), with some common aspects to their transformational leadership theories and some significant differences, nearly all take for granted transformational learning theory. This paper posits that leaders who wish to lead in transformational ways must clearly understand the process of transformation, and in order to do so, they must be grounded at least to some extent in transformational learning theory (Cranton, 1994, 1994, 2006a, 2006b; Mezirow, 1990, 1991, 1997, 2000; Taylor 2006). The nine principles presented below take the first step toward that understanding.