Browsing by Author "Oelofsen, Dina"
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- ItemThe role of counselling psychology in the development of authentic transformational leaders within the context of a post-industrial society(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002-03) Oelofsen, Dina; Meyer, J. C.; De Vos, H. M.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology .ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This assignment seeks to demonstrate that transformational leadership development programs that focus on teaching leaders the various transformational behaviours, fall short of their goal of changing leadership practice. Given the post-industrial context and the challenges posed by various world crises, the timely development of effective leaders is of the essence. It is essential to recognise why current methods of leadership development are inefficient. Most development programs intervene to change behaviour. However, changed behaviour that does not reflect a leader's true motives and values will soon be identified by followers as manipulative efforts. The behaviour will be exposed as superficial and inauthentic. It is maintained that a more profound level of intervention is needed to bring about authentic leadership development. Leaders who need to change from an autocratic leadership style to the extreme opposite of transformational leadership style must change more than just their behaviour. They need to examine their view of life, the world, themselves and other people to identify their attitude and basic belief system. If this is not congruent to the values proposed by transformational leadership such as the empowerment of all people, it will be impossible to elicit authentic transformational leadership behaviour. Transformational leadership development programs will achieve greater success if they facilitate personal change within leaders. A change of view regarding themselves and other people will promote a true shift in values that encompass empowerment, support and advancement of all employees, will naturally yield behaviours consistent with these values. The person-centred approach of the well-known American psychologist Carl Rogers, proves to be an effective tool to provide leaders the opportunity to explore their beliefs, their experience and their attitudes. Various similarities between transformational leadership theory and person-centred psychotherapy principles exist. The conditions of personal growth echo the transformational leadership behaviour and the personal growth objective of Rogers resembles the transformational leadership objective of empowering all employees. It is maintained that leaders who gain self-knowledge and self-acceptance through the experience of a person-centred relationship can grow into a transformational leader. It will not only affect the organisation and its employees. Such a process can unlock human potential that can facilitate vision and meaning far beyond the organisation's linear objectives of increasing shareholder's value.