Development of Transformational Leadership Behaviors: How Can Coaching Help?

Abstract

In order to put their organizations in a position to change, leaders need to develop competencies that not only make them effective leaders but also transformational leaders. This raises the question of how to foster leaders to develop such behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how leadership coaching can support the development of transformational leadership (TL) through increased emotional intelligence (EI). Training and coaching approaches are explored, as are possible links to Goleman’s emotional intelligence (1998). Coaching on components of emotional intelligence is seen as a key approach in helping leaders move forward. More specifically, it introduces the concept of causal-loops as a powerful reflective approach to trigger deep behavioral change.