Level 4 Leaders understand the importance of spending the majority of their resources on developing others as leaders, thus producing more potential avenues of success. Identifying and developing the potential of each and every individual accessible to them will yield maximum long-term results for them and the organization.
Level 5: The Pinnacle
This Level may be considered the Level of Self Actualization of any great leader. “Rare is the leader who reaches Level 5 — the Pinnacle”. (Maxwell, 2011) Achieving this level of success permanently establishes a leader’s credibility within and outside of their respective organization. Pinnacle Leaders are so immersed in their positive qualities and desire to help develop others that it penetrates everything they do and brings success to whatever endeavors they may choose to be part of. (See Appendix 3)
Influence upon Transformactional Leadership Coaching
Maxwell’s Level 5 “Pinnacle Leader” is a perfect example of the Transformactional Leader. It’s no wonder leaders achieve this level later in their careers. This aligns perfectly with the fact that these leaders have already become self-actualized and realize that the only logical next achievement in life is to help others become self-actualized.
Application
Mary is the CEO of an extremely successful banking institution. Mary has been in the industry for almost 40 years and has built a legacy of successful teams, enormous financial success and the accumulation of everything she has ever wanted in life. Yet, Mary is still feeling that there’s more she can do. It appears that Mary has reached the Pinnacle of her career and has nothing else to accomplish. Simply asking Mary “What could you do to help others achieve your level of success?” could be the tipping point for Mary and bring her that next opportunity: to influence and help others achieve her level of success.
Transformactional Coaching
Every Coach is seeking the ever elusive moment when a client’s recognition of what they must do next is immediately followed by action! Not just action to go from one step to another, but a permanent, internal shift at the very core of the client’s being. True transformation takes place at the moment of creativity…a moment of clarity when the words and thoughts exchanged have absolutely no meaning, yet the power of the moment provides a clear understanding of one’s purpose on this planet and the awakening that comes along with that discovery. This takes the Transformation of an individual and commits it to permanent action in the Transactional world; permanent action towards self-actualization of their unlimited potential and creates a ripple effect around them. This “Transformaction” is felt by all those in their immediate presence and surroundings. Every transactional situation they are involved in appears effortless and inspires others to willingly follow alongside them to experience the journey to self-actualization for themselves.
Transformactional Leadership Progression Chart
Description of Transformactional Chart
The Transformactional Chart is comprised of five horizontal levels, containing of each of the previously discussed models. The far left vertical column is based upon the Four Stages of Learning a New Skill, starting with the first stage and ascending to the fourth. Next column is the Chakra Development age range, grouped within relevant seven year cycles. Then, Maslow’s stages within the Hierarchy of Needs. The final, far right column represents John C. Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership. Blue arrows represent the questions that could be asked to move the client from their current level to the next level. Finally. Highlighted in blue at the highest level is the highest possible level of Leadership, Transformactional Leadership…. leadership that evokes a desire to follow and produce for, simply based upon their sheer presence of a great leader and the transmission of their influence upon others. You will notice that at this level the arrow is two-sided in order to represent the necessary descent back into the lower stages in order for Pinnacle Leaders to help bring others up through the levels.
Each horizontal level offers the opportunity to identify the potential starting point for the development of a future Transformactional Leader and could be used (alongside other evidence-based barometers) as a catalyst in their future development.
How to Utilize the Chart
Why Transformactional Leadership Coaching?
It is very clear that simply achieving an external goal is rarely satisfying enough of an accomplishment to bring true satisfaction and success of any individual or group. Organizations are starting to realize the importance of “Authentic Leaders”; leaders who have pushed their own internal development as human beings first, and used this knowledge to map not only their own personal legacy but the legacy of others. It has become clear that the path to future organizational success will lie in satisfying the needs of the “whole” individual and not just focusing on the “exterior” worker and transactional success. Leaders who carefully combine the best attributes of great Transformational Leadership with those of Transactional Leadership will find the greatest success utilizing TLC. Those leaders who work on their own personal self-actualization will always be at the forefront of building great transformational organizations and producing an abundance of transactional success beyond the range of the typical expected results.
As Coaches we too are leaders…. leaders who helps others unearth their potential to lead others to self-actualization through their own. We must work together to increase the number of “self-actualized” leaders in the world to well beyond 2% of the earth’s population and bring a greater shift towards our true humanity and potential.