Transformational Leadership: From the Perspective of Neurological Leadership

Yaozhong Liu¹, Yudan Jing¹, Mei Gao²

¹School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
²School of Education Science, Ludong Univershity, Yantai, China.

DOI: 10.4236/ojl.2015.44013                

Abstract

To study Transformational Leadership from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience allows us to better understand the neural basis of its behavior. After a brief introduction to Transformational Leadership and neurological leadership, this paper puts its focus on going over the neurological study which is based on resting state and functional state in the respect of individual differences in Transformational Leadership. At the same time it has also clarified the neural basis of Transformational Leadership effectiveness. Based on the neurological research on the individual differences in Transformational Leadership and behavior effectiveness, this paper also puts forward some enlightenment to improve the behavior effectiveness of Transformational Leadership. In the conclusion part, this paper has discussed certain problems in this field and its future research directions.

Keywords

Transformational Leadership, Individual Differences, Cognitive Neuroscience, Leadership Effectiveness

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Admin, P. A. (2012). The Domain of Organizational Cognitive Neuroscience: Theoretical and Empirical Challenges. Journal of Management, 38, 921-931. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0149206312439471
[2]	Bai, M. Y. (2013). Transformational Leadership, Team Learning and Team Performance: Model and Mechanism. China University of Geosciences.
[3]	Balthazard, P. A., Waldman, D. A., Thatcher, R. W., & Hannah, S. T. (2012). Differentiating Transformational and Non-Transformational Leaders on the Basis of Neurological Imaging. Leadership Quarterly, 23, 244-258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.08.002
[4]	Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and Performance beyond Expectations (pp. 5244-5247). National College for School Leadership.
[5]	Bass, B. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1994). Shatter the Glass Ceiling: Women May Make Better Managers. Human Resource Management, 33, 549-560. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hrm.3930330405
[6]	Bass, B. M., & Bass, R. (2009). Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research, and Managerial Applications (4th ed.). New York: Free Press.
[7]	Becker, W. J., & Cropanzano, R. (2010). Organizational Neuroscience: The Promise and Prospects of an Emerging Discipline. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 1055-1059. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.668
[8]	Bono, J. E., & Judge, T. A. (2004). Personality and Transformational and Transactional Leadership: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89, 901-910. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.89.5.901
[9]	Boyatzis, R. E., & McKee, A. (2005). Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others through Mindfulness, Hope, and Compassion. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
[10]	Boyatzis, R. E., Passarelli, A. M., Koenig, K., Lowe, M., Mathew, B., Stoller, J. K. et al. (2012). Examination of the Neural Substrates Activated in Memories of Experiences with Resonant and Dissonant Leaders. Leadership Quarterly, 23, 259-272. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.08.003
[11]	Boyatzis, R. E. (2014). Possible Contributions to Leadership and Management Development from Neuroscience. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 13, 300-303. http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/amle.2014.0084
[12]	Cavazotte, F., Moreno, V., & Hickmann, M. (2012). Effects of Leader Intelligence, Personality and Emotional Intelligence on Transformational Leadership and Managerial Performance. Leadership Quarterly, 23, 443-455. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.10.003
[13]	Chen, Y. J. (2009). Transformational Leadership Effectiveness, Mechanism and Cultural Dependence—Theoretical and Empirical Research Based on Chinese Background. MA Dissertation, Shanghai: Fudan University.
[14]	Connelly, S., & Gooty, J. (2015). Leading with Emotion: An Overview of the Special Issue on Leadership and Emotions. Leadership Quarterly, 26, 485-488. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2015.07.002
[15]	Deyoung, C. G., Hirsh, J. B., Shane, M. S., Papademetris, X., Rajeevan, N., & Gray, J. R. (2010). Testing Predictions from Personality Neuroscience Brain Structure and the Big Five. Psychological Science, 21, 820-828. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797610370159
[16]	Do, M. H., & Minbashian, A. (2014). A Meta-Analytic Examination of the Effects of the Agentic and Affiliative Aspects of Extraversion on Leadership Outcomes. Leadership Quarterly, 25, 1040-1053. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2014.04.004
[17]	FØllesdal, H., & Hagtvet, K. (2013). Does Emotional Intelligence as Ability Predict Transformational Leadership? A Multilevel Approach. Leadership Quarterly, 24, 747-762. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2013.07.004
[18]	Greaves, C. E., Zacher, H., Mckenna, B., & Rooney, D. (1980). Wisdom and Narcissism as Predictors of Transformational Leadership. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 35, 335-358. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-07-2012-0092
[19]	Gross, J. J. (2002). Emotion Regulation: Affective, Cognitive, and Social Consequences. Psychophysiology, 39, 281-291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0048577201393198
[20]	Hariri, A. R., & Weinberger. D. R. (2003). Functional Neuroimaging of Genetic Variation in Serotonorgic Neurotransmission. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 2, 341-349. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1601-1848.2003.00048.x
[21]	Jack, A. I., Boyatzis, R. E., Khawaja, M. S., Passarelli, A. M., & Leckie, R. L. (2013). Visioning in the Brain: An Fmri Study of Inspirational Coaching and Mentoring. Social Neuroscience, 8, 369-384. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2013.808259
[22]	Judge, T. A., & Bono, J. E. (2000). Five-Factor Model of Personality and Transformational Leadership. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85, 751-765. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.85.5.751
[23]	Kislova, O. O., & Rusalova, M. N. (2009). EEG Coherence in Humans: Relationship with Success in Recognizing Emotions in the Voice. Neuroscience & Behavioral Physiology, 39, 545-552. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11055-009-9174-y
[24]	Kumar, S. (2014). Establishing Linkages between Emotional Intelligence and Transformational Leadership. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 23, 1-3. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0972-6748.144934
[25]	Lee, N., Broderick, A. J., & Chamberlain, L. (2007). What Is “Neuromarketing”? A Discussion and Agenda for Future Research. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 63, 199-204. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2006.03.007
[26]	Li, C. P. (2013). Resonant Leadership: Dimension, Measurement and Its Mechanism. Advances in Psychological Science, 21, 2103-2109. http://dx.doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1042.2013.02103
[27]	Li, C. (2014). Transformational Leadership and Team Effectiveness: The Cross-Level Mediating Effect of Intra-Team Cooperation. Management Review, 26.
[28]	Li, X., Shi, Y., Wang, Z., & Shi, K. (2013). Resilience and Work Engagement: The Mediating Effects of Positive Coping and Positive Emotions. Management Review, 25.
[29]	Lu, H., Peng, J., Liu, Y., Education, S. O., & University, G. (2014). Leadership Study and Application from the Perspective of Cognitive Neuroscience. Human Resources Development of China.
[30]	Luo, F. Y. (2013). How Emotion Affect Leadership Effectiveness: A Path Analysis Model. Leadership Science Forum, No. 10, 34-37.
[31]	Martin, J. (2015). Transformational and Transactional Leadership: An Exploration of Gender, Experience, and Institution Type. Portal Libraries & the Academy, 15, 331-351. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/pla.2015.0015
[32]	Meng, T. S. (2008). Study of Leadership Behavior in Scientific Research Team and Its Impact on Team Effectiveness. Doctoral Dissertation, Chengdu: University of Electronic Science and Technology.
[33]	Ochsner, K. N., Bunge, S. A., Gross, J. J., & Gabrieli, J. D. E. (2002). Rethinking Feelings: An Fmri Study of the Cognitive Regulation of Emotion. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 14, 1215-1229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/089892902760807212
[34]	Palmer, B., Walls, M., Burgess, Z., & Stough, C. (2001). Emotional Intelligence and Effective Leadership. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 22, 5-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01437730110380174
[35]	Peterson, S. J., Balthazard, P. A., Waldman, D. A., & Thatcher, R. W. (2008). Neuroscientific Implications of Psychological Capital: Are the Brains of Optimistic, Hopeful, Confident, and Resilient Leaders Different? Organizational Dynamics, 37, 342-353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2008.07.007
[36]	Rajah, R., Song, Z., & Arvey, R. D. (2011). Emotionality and Leadership: Taking Stock of the Past Decade of Research. Leadership Quarterly, 22, 1107-1119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.09.006
[37]	Rock, D., & Schwartz, J. (2007). The Neuroscience of Leadership. Reclaiming Children & Youth, 16, 10-17.
[38]	Spain, S. M., & Harms, P. D. (2014). A Sociogenomic Perspective on Neuroscience in Organizational Behavior. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 84. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00084
[39]	Thatcher, R. W., Krause, P. J., & Hrybyk, M. (1986). Cortico-Cortical Associations and EEG Coherence: A Two-Compartmental Model. Electroencephalography & Clinical Neurophysiology, 64, 123-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0013-4694(86)90107-0
[40]	Thatcher, R. W., North, D. M., & Biver, C. J. (2008). Development of Cortical Connections as Measured by EEG Coherence and Phase Delays. Human Brain Mapping, 29, 1400-1415. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hbm.20474
[41]	Waldman, D. A., Balthazard, P. A., & Peterson, S. J. (2011). Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Leadership. Leadership Quarterly, 22, 1092-1106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.09.005
[42]	Xie, Z. X. (2008). Organizational Change and Neurological Leadership. Board, 10, 102-102.
[43]	Yue, L. I., & Wang, Z. M. (2012). The Influence of Procedural Justice and Innovative Behavior: The Mediating Role of Positive Mood. Soft Science.
[44]	Yue, T., & Huang, X. T. (2014). The Network of Empathy. Journal of Southwest University: Humanities and Social Sciences Edition, No. 5, 87-94.
[45]	Zhang, Q. Y., & Lu, J. M. (2013). What Is Emotional Contagion? The Concept and Mechanism of Emotional Contagion. Advances in Psychological Science, 21, 1596-1604. http://dx.doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1042.2013.01596
[46]	Zhang, Y. J., Cui, L. X., & Wang, Y. F. (2011). Cognitive Effects of Positive Emotions and Neural Mechanisms. Promoting Awareness and Capabilities of Applying Psychology to Serve the Society. Chinese Psychological Society 90th Anniversary Conference (14th National Psychology Conference Abstracts), 105-111.