Leaders and Followers: Students Developing Transformational Leadership Through Collaborator Feedback

Abstract

Transformational leadership is emerging as the operational leadership paradigm for twenty-first century leaders. Additionally, the concept of leadership as a relationship between leaders and collaborators is being accepted and understood as a significant framework for leadership education. This paper addresses the problem of how transformational leadership is best developed in the collegiate population for both leaders and collaborators. A description is provided of an educational methodology that utilizes collaborator feedback to assist both leaders and collaborators in the development of transformational leadership in a relational context. Additionally, student assessments are provided regarding their perspectives of leadership education that actively engages leaders and collaborators in sharing and receiving feedback. This observation/reflection dynamic adds a strategic component to experiential, leadership education.

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