By: Steve Hayes
Identifying the three dimensions of a transformational leader.
Every organization is looking for a competitive edge in their leadership talent. As a retained search firm, it is our mission at The Human Capital Group to FIND leaders that deliver lasting results for our clients. Whether it’s a healthcare executive search for a Chief Medical Officer or a nonprofit executive search for a Director of Development, our vetting process remains the same – identify who will be a transformational leader for this organization.
To do so, we developed the Transformational Leadership Model that encompasses the three dimensions of a transformational leader.
Transformational Leadership Model
In the Transformational Leadership Model, leaders contribute across three dimensions:
- Functional
- Cultural
- Organizational
At the core of the Transformational Leadership Model lies the Mission and Purpose of an organization. When our executive recruiters seek to identify a transformational leader for our client, we first discern if a candidate embodies this Mission and Purpose. If they are aligned, we further evaluate whether he or she can drive the Strategy & Priorities across the Functional, Cultural and Organizational dimensions of this leadership role.
Functional Attributes of a Transformational Leader
When our executive search team sits down with our client to identify the functional requirements of a role, we dig in further to understand how these skills and experiences will be leveraged to execute the Strategy and Priorities of the organization.
For example, how will understanding leveraged buyouts fill a functional gap on a private equity leadership team? Or how will the experience of managing a multi-system footprint be leveraged to promote one of the diversity priorities of a CHRO role? By putting these individual skills or experience in context, we can better understand how this leader will contribute functionally to transform the organization.
Our executive recruiters also leverage their extensive experience in canvassing the talent market to pinpoint the skills and experience that are highly coveted for leaders in the industry. This allows our executive search consultants to recommend additional requirements and create even more opportunities for acquiring competitive talent for the role.
Cultural Attributes of a Transformational Leader
Cultural fit is a tricky thing. The benefit of working with a retained search firm is the partnership that develops between the client and the executive search team. This partnership allows us to truly comprehend the cultural elements that make each organization unique, and how to identify who would make a strong cultural fit.
However, hiring a transformational leader requires more than cultural alignment. A transformational leader does not only embody the Mission, Purpose and Values of an organization. They work to further it at every opportunity. Through in-depth questions, we get to the heart of how the candidate produces results to ensure strong cultural alignment.
Organizational Attributes of a Transformational Leader
Through this retained search partnership, our team is also able to understand the leadership competencies essential for organizational excellence. We take stock of how leaders at your organization are succeeding, and what characteristics are essential for that success.
There’s another key component of organizational leadership that we use to identify transformational leaders for all our clients. Truly transformational leaders don’t just lead. They serve. This servant leader mindset is a quality we encourage each organization to prioritize. We have witnessed firsthand the positive impact of this leadership style when it starts at the top.
Identifying the three dimensions of a transformational leader as it pertains to your organization is a challenging task. It’s why The Human Capital Group has made it our mission “To Serve” our clients and help them FIND transformational leaders that deliver lasting results.
Learn more about our promise of Speed, Quality and Value for each retained search.
Steve Hayes has been focused on helping organizations acquire, coach and develop leaders throughout his career in Human Resources. In 2000, he founded The Human Capital Group, an Executive Search and Leadership Advisory firm with Purpose: To Find, Strengthen and Grow transformational leaders that deliver lasting results.
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