In recent years transformational leadership
has been questioned by the ``Hitler problem'':
is Hitler a transformational leader the same
way as Gandhi or Mother Teresa? How can
we distinguish leaders from manipulators?
Instead of looking at specific values that a
``good'' leader should exhibit, this paper
proposes looking at the relationship that is
created between the leader and the
collaborator (partnership), which is the
result of the values and behaviors of the
leader. The partnership promoted by the
leader demonstrates sets of values and
behaviors in a more objective and
measurable form, and avoids entering the
cultural relativism problem.
In this paper we take the perspective of
relational leadership. In this view, leadership
is defined as an influence relationship, in
which the leader and the collaborator
mutually (although not symmetrically)
influence each other in a dynamic way,
forming partnerships with greater or lesser
added value. Looking at these partnerships,
we can distinguish three types of leadership:
transactional, transformational and
transcendental. Although partnerships are
defined by the motivation of the
collaborators in the relationship, they are the
result of the values and behaviors of the
leader. For this reason, it is critical that the
leader understands and practices behavior
patterns and values that encourage the
creation and reinforcement of high valueadded
partnerships. The type of partnership
that the relational leader is able to create will
determine the quality of the collaborators'
following behaviors, as well as the strength
and the depth of the loyalty they show to the
partnership.