Transactional vs. Transformational

While working on my doctoral thesis proposal, I've been reading Leighton Ford's, Transforming Leadership. (If you look to the right sidebar, you will see it on my Shelfari Shelf.) Written back in '91, he summarizes the work of renowned scholar, writer, and consultant, Bernard Bass (the father of taking Burns' Transforming Leadership and finding ways of measuring it). His summary serves as a great point of discussion. I quote him below:

• "Transactional leaders work within the situation; transformational leaders change the situation.
• Transactional leaders accept what can be talked about; transformational leaders change what can be talked about.
• Transactional leaders accept the rules and values; transformational leaders change them.
• Transactional leaders talk about payoffs; transformational leaders talk about goals.
• Transactional leaders bargain; transformational leaders symbolize." (22)

Quite an evaluation! While I would like to believe I am transformational, more often than not I find myself transactional. Why just the other day as I was reflecting on the direction of a conversation I was having with someone, I realized I was much more willing to bargain than to symbolize. I know, there are some who will try to blunt the sound of what Ford has summarized as a way of playing it safe. I wonder, though, "Did God play it safe?" Ouch!

His,
John