Leadership Solutions

MLQ stands for the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and it's one of the best kept secrets in leadership development. The MLQ measures transformational and transactional leadership as well as non-leadership and outcomes of leadership. Transformational and transactional leadership theory suggests that there is a relationship between the manager's leadership style and the followers' motivation and satisfaction levels. Bernie Bass and Bruce Avolio developed the MLQ and they have shown that transformational leaders influence the followers' perceptions of what is important through 5 critical strategies (1)Building trust and acting with integrity (2)Inspiring others (3)Encouraging innovative thinking (4)Coaching and (5) Rewarding achievements.Transactional leaders use exchange transactions to reward staff performance using two main strategies: (1)Setting clear goals and making sure people know what they can expect to get if they achieve goals and (2) actively providing corrective feedback to ensure that specific delegated tasks are accomplished. A third style of leadership is passive and avoidant or a leader who avoids involvement. These leaders are absent when needed; they are actually non-leaders. When leaders augment transactional with transformational leadership, Bass and Avolio have shown that " a greater amount of Extra Effort, Effectiveness and Satisfaction is possible from employees." Therefore, successful leaders must use a mix of both transformational and transactional styles and can influence staff by demonstrating behaviors that meet subordinates needs through relationships that motivate them to achieve outcomes beyond what they would ordinarily accomplish in any other style. Study after study ustilizing the MLQ in every imaginable setting and part of the world have shown this to be true. The studies are there to read,serious, leadership-based books are available. And yet somehow most people have not heard of the MLQ. If you Google MLQ an Australian site will come up. I am working on getting that turned around. If you are looking for the Gold Standard of 360s consider using the MLQ, at least you will know that if you change the behaviors that are rated low you will get better results.